The history of Tarot Cards According to History
+SI20
+The history of Tarot Cards According to History
+The history of Tarot Cards According to History
+Some Gossip on gossip
+Some Gossip on gossip
+‘Crystals & Energy’ is a holographic oracle deck exploring a +range of energy sources through the magical (mystical) nature of +crystals and minerals as energy-storing matter.
+Lidia and Artemis, Special Issue 20 guest editors, asked us to modify +an oracle deck of our choice. We, Cara and Boyana, prototyped a +holographic oracle deck where a type of crystal is coupled with a type +of energy resource in a single card in an attempt to talk about the +global energy crisis we are facing today. It (the deck) provides an +educational experience through the use of a DIY prism and complimentary +audiovisual materials, together serving as an immersive learning +environment.
+After a quick research, we decided to couple Aquamarine and Liquified +Natural Gas (LNG) which we thought would fit nicely as a first example +of such a card.
+Why Aquamarine? It looks like water that has been crystallised; +stored energy; compression; solidified; being put under pressure or +exposed to a specific temperature so that it changes its state (from +liquid to solid). Why LNG? It is natural gas that has been liquified; +compressed; liquified; being put under pressure or exposed to a specific +temperature so it changes its state (from gas to liquid); stores energy +that can be channelled later.
+Then, we wrote a short poem weaving the two elements into the +everyday narrative. Later this poem served as a script to create a voice +narration (one-minute-long audio piece) that went into the video +creation process. Although the final text is a slight deviation from our +initial idea, we felt inspired by the conversation we had with Steve +earlier that day. He talked about his childhood memories of collecting +rocks in notebooks, perhaps similar to what geologists do when they +document their discoveries. He also mentioned a few things about caverns +and a mine (later turned into a museum) located near the city where he +used to live.
+To visualise the card, we used a hologram video maker app. The +process was easy and fun. All we had to do was simply find a hi-res +image of the Aquamarine crystal on a black surface and upload it into +the app. Lastly, we made a model of a pyramid prism so that we can +demonstrate the prototype fully. To get the full holographic effect, we +had to put it on top of a phone screen and play the video, which we +uploaded on YouTube and embedded the link onto a website.
+We saw in this prototype a potential to provide new knowledge, create +an engaging and fun learning experience around energy sources, and add a +sense of magic to everyday life. By combining these different elements, +we were hoping to create an unusual experience that can help people +better understand and appreciate the importance of energy sources and +sustainability. It will be interesting to see how our prototype evolves +and what kind of impact it could have on people’s perceptions of these +topics.
++
While the future cannot be predicted with certainty, present +understanding in various scientific fields allows for the prediction of +some far-future events, if only in the broadest outline. These fields +include astrophysics, particle physics, evolutionary biology, plate +tectonics and sociology. The far future begins after the current +millennium comes to an end, starting with the 4th millennium in 3001 CE, +and continues until the furthest reaches of future time. This timeline +includes alternative future events that address unresolved scientific +questions, and is in fact not six sigma accurate at all.
+This timeline (based on Wikipedia’s Timeline +of the Far Future) claims to make accurate predictions far into the +future at timescales that are difficult to comprehend; beyond our +lifetimes, beyond the death of the earth, beyond the death of atoms. The +scientific method claims to have an intense relationship to the material +world which is “orders of magnitude” more accurate than other ways of +interacting with and understanding where we are. The scientist often +pits themself as “against” the fortune-teller, the tarot reader, or the +mystic, and yet they make even bigger claims about our collective +future. Is there any way to disprove the scientist’s method in their own +mind?
+This web-based game attempts to highlight the uselessness of this +approach. Sometimes a human can have no effect on the extreme truth that +science offers, or to put it more usefully, sometimes science has +nothing to offer humans. This timeline uses scientific and objective +distance to avoid the most inevitable and obvious event in the future: +your own death. Death is non-relational: no one can die in one’s place, +and we cannot understand our own death through the death of others +(Heidegger, Being and Time, 1962). Just like the scientist, the +philosopher doesn’t have much to offer solace here. So where do we go to +talk about death?
+ +He who dreams of drinking wine may weep when morning comes; he +who dreams of weeping may in the morning go off to hunt. While he is +dreaming he does not know it is a dream, and in his dream he may even +try to interpret a dream. Only after he wakes does he know it was a +dream. And someday there will be a great awakening when we know that +this is all a great dream.
+And when I say you are dreaming, I am dreaming, too.
+Zhuàngzi
+Have you ever woken up feeling like there is a word, at the tip of +your tongue, in a language you don’t quite understand?
+It’s the same feeling you may have felt when a dream has left too +quickly once you woke up, like a regretful lover. You grasped and +reached but it was gone and you have forgotten something so +fundamentally important that your stomach has caved into itself.
+This deck of oracle cards invites you to go back into that cave, that +pit, to the start of that word. Tarot and oracle cards are always tools +for self-exploration, but the Oracolotto will guide you to explore +deeper, into the subconscious realm of your dreams.
+Oracolotto includes twenty-one cards and one guidebook. The cards +follow the paved journey of Tarot’s major arcana, but do not be fooled +by the numbers, as they will not give you insight into the path. You do +not need any previous knowledge to use these cards, only the ability to +dream and a soul, yours or other.
+The Oracolotto cards present illustrations of collective dream +archetypes, as delineated by Neapolitan tradition. While the cards +symbolically follow the traditional Tarot journey from the fool to the +world(minus the Emperor), they are based on the Neapolitan art form of +the Smorfia, intended not as the grimace but the dream interpretation +method.
+The Smorfia is an ancient art form in which symbols and archetypes +from a person’s dreams are analysed and converted into numbers. To use +the Smorfia, one would thus recall every event, person and object that +appeared in their dream, and then use the extensive list of dream +archetypes to find the associated numbers. This may be used to find out +the meaning of your dreams or, most commonly, to find numbers to play +the lottery (Ricciardone, 1987; Zezza, 1835).
+In this case however, the archetypes were used as a story telling +device, an exploration tool for imagination and self-discovery. You may +chose to use these cards in the two ways I have imagined, or create your +own.
+There is a possibility, that you have read thus far because you wish +to remember your dreams and connect to your subconscious, but feel like +you cannot. You may almost never recall your dreams or think that they +are random. If this is your case, I recommend that you use the +Oracolotto in the first way I have described, as the subconscious seeps +into our daily thoughts and feelings anyways. The deck may help you find +these patterns.
+You may also choose your own path, disregard what I said and make +your own game, read old or future dreams or even play the lottery. The +tools are now in your hands.
+You may have been told that objects do not have spirit and have +believed it. If you have, I suggest you tuck the inner skeptic into bed +and let the curious child out to play for the following sections. You +see, the Oracolotto, like any Tarot or Oracle, does not believe itself +to be an objects. In fact, it thinks that no object is just a thing, but +most exist in the spiritual plane as well. As such, all objects have a +soul, a spirit that connects to yours.
+This particular one, the Oracolotto, has a playful and deep soul. It +asks to be cared for as if it was a living thing, more a plant than a +pet. It asks to be touched, used, cried on, laughed with. Most +importantly, it asks for a place to rest every night. I would also +recommend, at your discretion, to free negative intention from the cards +if you stumble upon it. This may happen if you do a reading for someone +who turns out to have bad intention, or just a very heavy painful load. +It may also happen if you use them alone in a moment of intense sadness +or anger. In these cases, I recommend finding a way to release these +feelings from the cards, by leaving them out to breath, or holding them +in your hands while thinking positive thoughts.
+Set an intention to begin. You or the person you are reading for will +ask a question, out loud or in your mind as you shuffle the cards. You +then have two options: either spread them out or fan them, and choose +one card at a time with your dominant hand; or place the whole deck on a +surface and run your fingers alongside it until you feel like splitting +the deck and picking a card. Do it however you wish, the important thing +is that you let your intuition guide you to a card.
+Lay it in front of you ( the “How to Lay Out the Cards” section +follows). Turn the card over and feel, hear, see, and intuit its meaning +in relation to your question. Refer to this guidebook for +interpretations. If you give readings to others, it is always a good +idea to keep a record of your own readings, as messages for others do +usually weave together with those for you. Sometimes cards will”jump” +out of the deck while you’re shuffling. These cards are trying to get +your attention. They’re part of your reading, or perhaps the entire +reading. In any case, know that they’re important messages to be +heeded.
+Alternatively and if applicable, you may choose one card and place it +on your altar or under your pillow at night to bring in deeper +understanding.
+.One Card Spread
+A single card can be used for several purposes:
+.Three-Card Spread
+A three-card spread can also be used in a couple of different +ways:
+If you wish to find a more fleshed out narrative, you may choose to +do bigger spread. Information about those can be found in any book about +tarot or online.
+.keywords: beginnings, unformed potential, taking a risk, answering a +‘call’, trusting in the universe, overcoming self-doubt, embracing +uncertainty.
+Coffee is brewing, yet to be poured on the empty cup on the counter. +A spiritual guide sits patiently, urging you to begin, while the sun +shines outside a closed window. On the side, enormous snowdrops have +blossomed, indicating the first tentative steps of spring.
+While the Coffe is number 42, this card comes before the others. Like +an unhatched egg it contains all the potential for the journey. The cup +is empty, but you are urged to pour it, to drink it and to being the +journey. A spiritual guide urges you forward. Like the prophet Muhammad +who was given coffee(قهوة) by the Archangel Jibreel, you are also urged +to begin.
+The Coffee upright in a reading tells you it is now the time to be +naive and courageous. Set on a new adventure and do not worry about the +consequences. It is time, the coffee is ready.
+Reversed
+If the Coffee appears reversed, it is a warning. The coffee will +spill and it may burn your or others. Be cautious about disregarding the +consequences of your actions. Your eagerness for freedom and new +beginnings may have harmed others of yourself. Now, you are being asked +for consistency and patience. There is a time to be brave and to set off +on new paths, and a time to be reliable and patient-wisdom lays in +knowing the difference.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 0. the fool.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: all signs, the +universe.
+.keywords: magic, manifestation, setting intentions, directing energy +consciously, willpower, concentration, having all the resources you +need.
+Two old women stand before a table, one pointing to above and one +below. Their eyes glow with mystic powers and if they have appeared in +your dreams you may feel their power radiating. This is particularly +powerful card. While looking at it, reject what you have been told about +the emotional loneliness of spinsters and focus on their ability to spin +a magical web. These women are appearing to you at an important time, at +the moment when you may choose your own path. You are now fully able to +manifest your desires. The Spinsters are showing you the power you hold +and asking you for intense concentration. There is power in your focus +and dedication, now is the time to channel all your resources to +achieving what you wish.
+Reversed
+If the Spinsters have appeared reversed, is is a sign that you are
+ignoring your own powers. You no longer see two crone magicians who have
+chosen the path of spiritual power but instead two unmarried older
+women. Do not be fooled. The power is in your hands, your potential lays
+dormant underneath your doubts and lack of self esteem. Trust in your
+ability, trust the Spinsters to weave you back to an active role within
+your own life.
+
✳ tarot correspondence: 1. the magician.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: gemini & virgo.
+. keywords: intuition, subconscious, higher wisdom, knowing something +you can’t explain, stillness, meditation, spell-work and ritual.
+The Bride sits in silence in an underground cistern, two eyes closed +and a third one opened. Upon her head two crescent moons hold the globe. +She is alone, but does not appear to be waiting. The Bride is a figure +of divine wisdom, feminine mystery and intuitive knowledge. She is the +guardian of the unconscious and she is meeting you. By receiving this +card you are being gently led deeper, or asked to go deeper. To artists, +she is the representation of creative potential. The bride has little +care for the material as her powers lay in the true nature of emotion. +Let your intuition lead the way, quiet the chatter of the rational and +logical.
+Reversed
+If you are facing a reversed Bride, is is an indication to examine
+where you are ignoring your gut. Perhaps you have let your thinking mind
+run loose or have not been listening to your gut. You have even be
+overvaluing other’s opinions or acting too hastily. Whichever is it, it
+may be time to be still, reflect and meditate on your intuition.
+
✳ tarot correspondence: 2. the high priestess.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: cancer & pisces.
+.keywords: maternal figure, familiar love, abundance, life force, +strong protection, dignity.
+The Mother sits on a throne in the middle of the river of life force, +a crown upon her head a sword in her hand. In this iconography she is +Juno, Roman goddess of marriage and family. As such, she sits near a +pregnant cow and a peacock eating a pomegranate. Around her nature +thrives. She is the embodiment of femininity and the bringer or life and +growth. Her energy is both nurturing and fiercely protective. She is +appearing to indicate that she is looking after you and your growth. She +is abundant and as such so will your expression be, both creative and +sensual. Deep fulfilment awaits.
+Reversed
+The Mother has appeared reversed. Juno’s warlike nature is more +active than her nurturing side. Your seeking of protection is keeping +your from true love and joy. You were guarding yourself, and while you +were in the right to do so, it is now time to let your shield down. Your +emotional crops are thriving, you have put in the work. Let go of your +war, lean into joy and love.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 3. the empress.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: libra.
+.keywords: belief systems, ancestry, study, tradition, conformity, +learning about the past.
+A priest stands in front of you, one hand to invite you and one +towards the divine. On his shoulders sits a church, the door slightly +ajar. On the bottom, you may see keys. The Church cards beckons you +inside a mysteries sacred place. In Christian belief, a church is not +only where religious community meets but seat of Divinity itself. I +invite you to the Church card as such, and disconnect it from its +Christian imagery. It stands in the place of any established social +structure, spiritual tradition or source of ancestral knowledge. It is a +teacher, a leader, a guru of past memory. If the Church has come up in +your reading, its indicating a need for deeper meaning or knowledge. +Will you use your key to follow the paved road and find out who paved it +and who walked it before you?
+Reversed
+The Church is upside down. Its integrity is questioned, the status +quo stumbles. The pressure of conformity weighs heavy, others’ belief +systems hang above your head. This card is now urging you to move. +Tradition can be a teacher or a jailer and in this case, it is trapping +you. It may be time to shake your ancestors wishes away and start anew, +upon a path you paved yourself.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 4. the hierophant.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: taurus, libra & +capricorn.
+Two hands reach for each other, the space between them filled with +light and eyes. Around their wrists roses are growing. There is an +obvious story being told, of two souls meeting in companionship. +However, this is a card about balance and choices too. The Upside Down +is a reference to love and the two sides of a coin. When this card +appears it speaks of love and strong bonds. It is asking you to choose +love, to make heartfelt, loving, compassionate choices. The Upside Down +is a simple card, asking you to choose. Listen to your heart and follow +it.
+Reversed
+Due to the nature of this card, up is down and down is up. However +you pull this card, it is showing you both the Yin and the Yang. In this +case, however, a sourness is prevalent. The eyes look away, giving you +space to work out and identify within yourself why a committment has +turned sour. Your inner voice is unbalanced. Use your heart for your +choices and seek out harmony.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 5. the lovers.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: gemini.
+.keywords: focused action, self-belief and confidence, +commitment, drive and determination, hard, passionate work, +assertion.
+A chariot flies across a starry sky with two half moons. Inside it, a +man dressed in Roman armour with the head of turtle dove looks straight +at you, welcoming you with one hand. This is the card of control and +victory. The Bird has control of his own fate but it will help you with +it too. It directs you to assert your will with mastery, careful +practice and self-discipline. It reminds you of your own courage and +your strength, an encourages you to direct your energies towards the +stars.
+Reversed
+When reversed, the Bird is spinning further and further out of +control. It may be due to an attempt to control too much, or an +underdeveloped assertiveness. Loosen the reins, redirect your chariot. +Some things are beyond your power to change and some others are just +waiting for your confidence and hard work. Assess which is which and +begin riding.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 6. the chariot.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: cancer.
+.keywords: inner strength and courage, dignified resistance, +emotional labour, heart.
+A naked woman covered in flowers looks to the side, casually taming +the lion in front of her. Behind her, a natural landscape opens up. Do +not be fooled by her gentle appearance, for she is not effortless. Her +strength lies in her heart as this is the card for Breasts. Emotional +weakness is discarded as patriarchal concept, as the Breasts are showing +you a dignified taming of the wild through your heart. Emotion can +steady your demeanour and your inner strength powers you. This indicates +positive emotional labour of your own ferocity and expression of pure +emotional strength. Go to towards your own chest, to the place of pain, +anger, greed, and fear in your life. Acknowledge where these things live +within you and own them, pour love all over them.
+Reversed
+The lion is now overpowering as the Breasts appear upside down. This +is an indication of weakness, your strength feeble as your +self-confidence lessens. Your emotions are no longer a power but an +overwhelming force that you cannot control. Do not let anger or pain +dictate your choice, find your strength once again.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 7. strength.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: leo.
+.keywords: introspection, solitude, retreat, working things through +on your own, claiming space and time for you, self-guided or guided +study.
+A figure cries in a cocoon underwater, wrapped in a cape of their +hair and algae. They are holding themselves, as their tears make their +way up. A light shines from their hands. This figure is in deep +introspection. The Crying card is not a negative card, regardless of +your own view of tears. It indicates a need for comfort and solitude. It +is asking for a moment of introspection, the only thing that may lead +you to true self discovery. Once you have expressed your pain and truly +felt it, you will gain better understanding.
+Reversed
+The tears fall upon you as the Crying card is reversed. You have +relied on yourself too much and over-isolated. The cocoon has served its +purpose, now the time for solitude is over. You may let others in or +leave your safe space altogether for the time for crying is over.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 8. the hermit.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: virgo.
+.keywords: positive luck, change, predictions and prophesies, feeling +like something is ‘destined’ to happen, an interconnected bigger +picture.
+A table is set with plates spelling out the ancient names for tarot +and wheel. In the center of the table you can see water, soil, air and +fire. Around the table sit the four fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio +and Aquarius. Three eyes, symbolising the three Fates oversee the table. +This is an incredibly auspicious card to pick. Like the table, your +destiny has been set, the tempo will crank up as your personal vision +develops into reality. This card is asking you to accept your fate, but +also take responsibility for it. The table is set but it is up to you to +serve.
+Reversed
+The Set Table has been turned the wrong way. This indicated elements +outside your control that are spinning your fate. Luck has not been on +your side and you may have found yourself unhappy with your +circumstances. Take a moment to analyse what could have happened, are +these elements toying with your luck internal or external? Is there +someone to blame, if yes, who is it? Whatever you find, trust that the +Table will be set again, and out of darkness a new light will be born, +informed by your discoveries.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 9. the wheel of fortune.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: aquarius, leo, taurus & +scorpio
+.keywords: truth, logical thought, objectivity, binary thinking, +justice, fairness, balance, accountability, social justice principles, +intersectionality.
+A woman, justice, walks the steps out of darkness, a lament +distorting her face. In the Lament, you can see justice wearing white, +carrying a sword on her waist and holding scales, with a heart on one +end and a brain on the other. Her blindfold stays on as her piercing +eyes penetrate through the truth. It is her cry for truth, her lament, +that propels her forward. This card calls out to you. Every action has +an equal reaction but it is often expression of injustice that brings +justice forward. It is the Lament that leads to balance, believe that +your expression of injustice is worth sharing.
+Reversed
+When the Lament appears reversed it indicates a flawed system, an +hidden truth or bias. This injustice may have been committed against you +or by you, but however it happened the scale are not balances and soon +they will be as someone faces consequences. It also begs for a +re-establishing of a balancing perspective on your side. Look at the +issue from both sides, hear the Lament.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 11. justice.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: libra.
+.keywords: passivity, cost, holding back, patience, allowing events +to unfold, meditation and mindful practice, inner peace, +self-acceptance, overcoming ego
+A man dangles, his foot loosely tied with rope, his wings closed by +his sides, his braid falling beyond sight. Next to him other people +hang, in the same situation. What we see are Purgatory’s Souls, intended +as the souls of people who are in a state of temporary punishment and +purification as they have died in a state of grace but are not yet ready +for heaven. Let the souls be of inspiration to you, in their state of +acceptance, as it is not their work that will send them to heaven. They +are, just like you, ready for peace and joy. What you must do now is +fully succumb to your situation, release. You see, if the soul was to +trust the flow of events and let go, he would realise he had wings all +along. A brazen metaphor, a simple reminder that it’s not time to +struggle for control. Trust the universe, trust yourself and let go.
+Reversed
+As Purgatory’s Souls appear reversed, they tell a different story. +They are not hanging but anchored to the soil. You are pulling yourself +further down, digging your heels in on a decision that has to be made. +Your inaction now is pointless, it will just delay the inevitable. The +souls already can fly, the punishment has been lifted and yet here you +still are. You must face your inner turmoil to move on.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 11. the hanged man.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: pisces.
+.keywords: the ending of a cycle, letting go and saying goodbye, +ritual to honour change, not resisting, honouring the seasons of +life.
+A deer’s skeleton lays on a blooming prairie. Close by, another deer +looks into the sun that is rising above the hills. The Talking Dead card +is a deeply sensitive one, invites a gentle approach. It does not +symbolise necessarily literal death but more so a positive harbinger of +change. The death has already happened, and the deer’s spirit is ready +to move into the coming day. The Talking Dead tells you it is time to +let go of old habits, ways of thinking and of the buried. This is the +only way to allow for more rewarding patterns. Resisting change will not +bring you joy at this stage, you must embrace transformation. There is +no other way, a profound experience is awaiting you, let the resting +lead you.
+Reversed
+If the card is reversed it appears that the Talking Dead is being +forced still. Changes are frightening you and you may be resisting them. +Your life is now stagnant, the sunrise is eternal as the sun never +reaches the sky. Trust that change will lead you wherever you need to +be. It is not a matter of avoiding what has happened, but rather of +learning to live with what it brought in the hope that better things lay +ahead.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 12. death.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: scorpio.
+.keywords: balance, harmony, blending of dualities, seeking the +middle path, not making extreme decisions, taking a non-binary attitude, +testing the waters, self-care, grace, gentleness.
+A large, winged, genderless dark figure stands in the sea. On their +forehead shines a triangle enclosed in a square, representing that +humans are bound by the Earth and natural law. The figure is taking +water from the sea but as they pour it into the bowl, it transforms into +a bowl of steaming soup. This card gives insight into the nuances of +balance. Wherever something is taken, something else must be given. The +figure is taking from the sea to deliver you the Warm Soup. See the +figure as if it was keeping a close eye on how well you handle +dualities. Keep to the middle path, do not make extreme decisions. You +may someone who tends to have a peaceful nature or someone who swings +between extremes. Either way, now is the time to test the waters of +gentleness, give back what you have been given and ask for what was +taken.
+Reversed
+The Warm Soup now pours upwards from the ladle. Something has been +thrown off balance in your life. The coming times require meticulous +care of balance. Equilibrium has to be restored once again. The costs +may be too high for what you are receiving from the universe. You must +reconsider your choices, find the weak point that has thrown off the +balance and adjust it.
+A ✳ tarot correspondence: 13. temperance.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: sagittarius.
+.keywords: bondage, addiction, materialism, destructive behaviours, +harmful cycles, choosing to get free, or choosing not to get free, +confronting fear, committing to your own freedom.
+Above a reversed pentacle five little devils dance naked, holding a +chain that leads to a circle of light containing a key. The Devils +symbolise what keeps us bound and trapped. It is a small circle that +contains you, a metaphorical jail to which you do not yet have a key. +This card cautions you against finding blame, and refers instead to that +which is constrained by ourself, our subconscious and direct choices. Do +not let ideas, people or situations absorb you so intensely that it +causes you to ignore other relationships.
+Reversed
+The Devils being upside down immediately reveals the bondage, you are +aware of your own chains. The unhealthy and trapping dynamics in your +life are finally emerging to the light. Caution, as this does not imply +freedom but may entail further temptation to crawl back into your own +trap. This is a time that needs your complete attention, use your +newfound awareness to open the chains, escape your metaphorical +jail.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 14. the devil.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: capricorn.
+.keywords: revolution, disaster, shock, mourning, blowing apart old +structures, demolition of the status quo, toppling systems of power, +potential, rebuilding after disaster, a blessing in disguise as a +disaster, rehabilitation, regeneration.
+An ancient pine tree towers in the night. Above, the all-seeing Storm +is unleashing lightening, cutting the tree down as birds escape. The +Storm, as the name suggests, is a complicated card to receive. It +indicates a profound disruption, a complete reset of the known. The +situation may seem grim at times, but it is fundamental that you +understand that the change that will be brought is undeniably ultimately +positive. You may not believe me at first, as the event that this card +indicates is a demolition and toppling of a structure that can feel +quite devastating. However, new growth will come from this and the old +cannot last forever lest it become decrepit. Remember well that when the +Storm appears in front of you, you are not the tree but the doves +escaping.
+Reversed
+In this situation the Storm that topples the pine tree is coming from +within. The issue is within your response to the situation, your worries +within your own head. Your perception is bringing you great pain. Take +care not to become a vortex of negativity, you must be mindful of your +own feelings and take responsibility of how your responses affect you +and those around you.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 15. the tower.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: scorpio & aries.
+.keywords: hope, love and support, coming home to yourself, +self-care, healing, being true to yourself, being guided by your +intuition, integrity, honesty,a positive new start or new vision.
+A Christmas tree sits lit by candles, next to a window. On the +windowsill sits a still warm cup of cocoa, framed by the view of an +enormous star illuminates the snowy field. Christmas is a card of hope. +A time of renewal, comfort and homely-ness lays ahead. It is now time to +leave the hard times behind. The star shines alone through the window, +filling the landscape with positivity and opportunity. It is
+✳ tarot correspondence: 16. the star.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: aquarius.
+.keywords: shadow work, getting in touch with your wild nature, +listening deeply to your intuition, secrets, signs and symbols, +non-rational, witchcraft, magic and spell-work, lies and deception, +deceiving yourself, wearing a mask.
+A wolf drinks from a pond of blood. Close by, a wild dog turns away +from the pond to face the moon that illuminates all around them. A crab +floats on a leaf, rising from the subconscious. The Blood is telling you +that all is not what it seems. Unsettling as a nightmare can be, this +card allows your inner wildness to be seem. The Blood represents +witchcraft, spell-work and occult arts of any kind. Do not be fooled by +the blood, as nobody in this figure is harmed. The moon shines its +silvery light on the elements within reality that are dishonest and +manipulative. Uncomfortable questions have to be asked and it may by +just someone just mad enough to think of them. Things are strange, it is +okay to feel disorientated. It is not time for answers now but for wild +magical practice.
+Reversed
+When reversed, the Blood shows a moon shining in the front. The inner +confusion is clearing. However, you may find find yourself deprived of a +mask you are not ready to let go of. Manipulation has been exposed, +wether you were the victim of perpetrator. While things will soon be +lighter, now they will first be heavy. Mental health struggles as the +truth comes forward and you initiate a process of complete honesty with +yourself.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 17. the moon.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: pisces.
+.keywords: positivity, saying yes, joy, practicing gratitude, +success, things coming together, life’s simple pleasures, allowing +yourself to simply be, connecting to a dynamic life force.
+Two children laugh in harmony on a horse, holding each other and a +waving flag. The sun shines on them and sunflowers are growing around +them. Laughter is an undoubtledly positive card. It represents +enthusiasm, growth and victory. Your good choices will pay off, you will +laugh again soon as victory is so close you may taste it already. Joy +will fill your heart and life will once again seem light-hearted and +effortless.
+Reversed
+Laughter is reversed, but do not panic. Victory is just not as close +as you thought it would be. A setback has brought you back into a +quieter place. There is a key element missing before you may achieve +that state of perfect joy. The effort will now need to be given to +finding once again things that make your heart swell up with joy, the +things that make you walk so light you feel you may just fly away. +Follow them and soon Laughter will come back.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 18. the sun.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: leo.
+keywords: hope, love and support, coming home to yourself, self-care, +healing, being true to yourself, being guided by your intuition, +integrity, honesty, a positive new start or new vision.
+A Christmas tree sits lit by candles, next to a window. On the +windowsill sits a still warm cup of cocoa, framed by the view of an +enormous star illuminates the snowy field. Christmas is a card of hope. +A time of renewal, comfort and homely-ness lays ahead. It is now time to +leave the hard times behind. The star shines alone through the window, +filling the landscape with positivity and opportunity. It is
+✳ tarot correspondence: 16. the star.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: aquarius.
+.keywords: positivity, saying yes, joy, practicing gratitude, +success, things coming together, life’s simple pleasures, allowing +yourself to simply be, connecting to a dynamic life force.
+Two children laugh in harmony on a horse, holding each other and a +waving flag. The sun shines on them and sunflowers are growing around +them. Laughter is an undoubtedly positive card. It represents +enthusiasm, growth and victory. Your good choices will pay off, you will +laugh again soon as victory is so close you may taste it already. Joy +will fill your heart and life will once again seem light-hearted and +effortless.
+Reversed
+Laughter is reversed, but do not panic. Victory is just not as close +as you thought it would be. A setback has brought you back into a +quieter place. There is a key element missing before you may achieve +that state of perfect joy. The effort will now need to be given to +finding once again things that make your heart swell up with joy, the +things that make you walk so light you feel you may just fly away. +Follow them and soon Laughter will come back.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 18. the sun.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: leo.
+.keywords: liberation, freedom, casting off shackles, laying down of +old baggage, total accountability for self, integrity, honesty, +forgiveness, allowing yourself to move forwards.
+A woman with rollers in her hair stands on a balcony, looking down, +where a swarm of butterflies is emerging from the darkness. This is a +lofty card, as, like Lament and the Set Table, it carries the theme of +accountability. In this particular case it talks about being honest and +thorough about yourself. The Gossiping Woman sees all of you and calls +you to do the same. It is holding a mirror to your entire life, +successes and failure. You must face the Gossiping Woman to liberate +yourself and fly towards freedom. To move forward unencumbered it +requires acknowledgement of the present moment and everything that it +carries.
+Reversed
+The Gossiping Woman now may not see you. This is an indication that +you are refusing to acknowledge the hurt or pain that was caused to you +and the one that you have caused yourself. However, you must own +mistakes and let them be just that. When the Gossiping Woman is +reversed, it is asking you to find forgiveness, for yourself and others. +It will be hard work and possibly take a great amount of time, but the +Gossiping Woman watches and is rooting for you to be able to free +yourself of this burden.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 19. judgement.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: scorpio.
+.keywords: completion, a sense of wholeness, knowing who you are in +the world, having a sense of place, feeling deeply connected to all +things, reaching your goal, celebration, jubilation.
+Three friends are celebrating, drinking Good Wine and dancing on the +world, surrounded by a crown of vines for victory. One holds a flag and +another a wand, bringing your journey to closure. This is the end of the +road, the last card in this deck. The spiritual guide that brought you +Coffee now has brought you here. The completion of the cycle and the +celebration that comes thereafter. You have changed and grown and now +the energy of wholeness shines. Soon it will dissipate as life shifts +into a new beginning but for now, the Good Wine urges you to relish in +your successes. One day you will surrender again to the flow and +remember that you are the same person that started this journey, filled +with infinite possibilities.
+Reversed
+The Good Wine may not be drunk yet, completion is not within reach +yet. The end seemed in sight but you tried cutting corners and there is +still work to be done. The result will only bring fulfilment if the +effort has been thorough and earnest. Keep dreaming, keep working and +soon the Good Wine will be yours.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 20. the world.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: all signs.
+yay
+He who dreams of drinking wine may weep when morning comes; he +who dreams of weeping may in the morning go off to hunt. While he is +dreaming he does not know it is a dream, and in his dream he may even +try to interpret a dream. Only after he wakes does he know it was a +dream. And someday there will be a great awakening when we know that +this is all a great dream.
+And when I say you are dreaming, I am dreaming, too.
+Zhuàngzi
+Have you ever woken up feeling like there is a word, at the tip of +your tongue, in a language you don’t quite understand?
+It’s the same feeling you may have felt when a dream has left too +quickly once you woke up, like a regretful lover. You grasped and +reached but it was gone and you have forgotten something so +fundamentally important that your stomach has caved into itself.
+This deck of oracle cards invites you to go back into that cave, that +pit, to the start of that word. Tarot and oracle cards are always tools +for self-exploration, but the Oracolotto will guide you to explore +deeper, into the subconscious realm of your dreams.
+Oracolotto includes twenty-one cards and one guidebook. The cards +follow the paved journey of Tarot’s major arcana, but do not be fooled +by the numbers, as they will not give you insight into the path. You do +not need any previous knowledge to use these cards, only the ability to +dream and a soul, yours or other.
+The Oracolotto cards present illustrations of collective dream +archetypes, as delineated by Neapolitan tradition. While the cards +symbolically follow the traditional Tarot journey from the fool to the +world(minus the Emperor), they are based on the Neapolitan art form of +the Smorfia, intended not as the grimace but the dream interpretation +method.
+The Smorfia is an ancient art form in which symbols and archetypes +from a person’s dreams are analysed and converted into numbers. To use +the Smorfia, one would thus recall every event, person and object that +appeared in their dream, and then use the extensive list of dream +archetypes to find the associated numbers. This may be used to find out +the meaning of your dreams or, most commonly, to find numbers to play +the lottery (Ricciardone, 1987; Zezza, 1835).
+In this case however, the archetypes were used as a story telling +device, an exploration tool for imagination and self-discovery. You may +chose to use these cards in the two ways I have imagined, or create your +own.
+There is a possibility, that you have read thus far because you wish +to remember your dreams and connect to your subconscious, but feel like +you cannot. You may almost never recall your dreams or think that they +are random. If this is your case, I recommend that you use the +Oracolotto in the first way I have described, as the subconscious seeps +into our daily thoughts and feelings anyways. The deck may help you find +these patterns.
+You may also choose your own path, disregard what I said and make +your own game, read old or future dreams or even play the lottery. The +tools are now in your hands.
+You may have been told that objects do not have spirit and have +believed it. If you have, I suggest you tuck the inner skeptic into bed +and let the curious child out to play for the following sections. You +see, the Oracolotto, like any Tarot or Oracle, does not believe itself +to be an objects. In fact, it thinks that no object is just a thing, but +most exist in the spiritual plane as well. As such, all objects have a +soul, a spirit that connects to yours.
+This particular one, the Oracolotto, has a playful and deep soul. It +asks to be cared for as if it was a living thing, more a plant than a +pet. It asks to be touched, used, cried on, laughed with. Most +importantly, it asks for a place to rest every night. I would also +recommend, at your discretion, to free negative intention from the cards +if you stumble upon it. This may happen if you do a reading for someone +who turns out to have bad intention, or just a very heavy painful load. +It may also happen if you use them alone in a moment of intense sadness +or anger. In these cases, I recommend finding a way to release these +feelings from the cards, by leaving them out to breath, or holding them +in your hands while thinking positive thoughts.
+Set an intention to begin. You or the person you are reading for will +ask a question, out loud or in your mind as you shuffle the cards. You +then have two options: either spread them out or fan them, and choose +one card at a time with your dominant hand; or place the whole deck on a +surface and run your fingers alongside it until you feel like splitting +the deck and picking a card. Do it however you wish, the important thing +is that you let your intuition guide you to a card.
+Lay it in front of you ( the “How to Lay Out the Cards” section +follows). Turn the card over and feel, hear, see, and intuit its meaning +in relation to your question. Refer to this guidebook for +interpretations. If you give readings to others, it is always a good +idea to keep a record of your own readings, as messages for others do +usually weave together with those for you. Sometimes cards will”jump” +out of the deck while you’re shuffling. These cards are trying to get +your attention. They’re part of your reading, or perhaps the entire +reading. In any case, know that they’re important messages to be +heeded.
+Alternatively and if applicable, you may choose one card and place it +on your altar or under your pillow at night to bring in deeper +understanding.
+.One Card Spread
+A single card can be used for several purposes:
+.Three-Card Spread
+A three-card spread can also be used in a couple of different +ways:
+If you wish to find a more fleshed out narrative, you may choose to +do bigger spread. Information about those can be found in any book about +tarot or online.
+.keywords: beginnings, unformed potential, taking a risk, answering a +‘call’, trusting in the universe, overcoming self-doubt, embracing +uncertainty.
+Coffee is brewing, yet to be poured on the empty cup on the counter. +A spiritual guide sits patiently, urging you to begin, while the sun +shines outside a closed window. On the side, enormous snowdrops have +blossomed, indicating the first tentative steps of spring.
+While the Coffe is number 42, this card comes before the others. Like +an unhatched egg it contains all the potential for the journey. The cup +is empty, but you are urged to pour it, to drink it and to being the +journey. A spiritual guide urges you forward. Like the prophet Muhammad +who was given coffee(قهوة) by the Archangel Jibreel, you are also urged +to begin.
+The Coffee upright in a reading tells you it is now the time to be +naive and courageous. Set on a new adventure and do not worry about the +consequences. It is time, the coffee is ready.
+Reversed
+If the Coffee appears reversed, it is a warning. The coffee will +spill and it may burn your or others. Be cautious about disregarding the +consequences of your actions. Your eagerness for freedom and new +beginnings may have harmed others of yourself. Now, you are being asked +for consistency and patience. There is a time to be brave and to set off +on new paths, and a time to be reliable and patient-wisdom lays in +knowing the difference.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 0. the fool.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: all signs, the +universe.
+.keywords: magic, manifestation, setting intentions, directing energy +consciously, willpower, concentration, having all the resources you +need.
+Two old women stand before a table, one pointing to above and one +below. Their eyes glow with mystic powers and if they have appeared in +your dreams you may feel their power radiating. This is particularly +powerful card. While looking at it, reject what you have been told about +the emotional loneliness of spinsters and focus on their ability to spin +a magical web. These women are appearing to you at an important time, at +the moment when you may choose your own path. You are now fully able to +manifest your desires. The Spinsters are showing you the power you hold +and asking you for intense concentration. There is power in your focus +and dedication, now is the time to channel all your resources to +achieving what you wish.
+Reversed
+If the Spinsters have appeared reversed, is is a sign that you are
+ignoring your own powers. You no longer see two crone magicians who have
+chosen the path of spiritual power but instead two unmarried older
+women. Do not be fooled. The power is in your hands, your potential lays
+dormant underneath your doubts and lack of self esteem. Trust in your
+ability, trust the Spinsters to weave you back to an active role within
+your own life.
+
✳ tarot correspondence: 1. the magician.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: gemini & virgo.
+. keywords: intuition, subconscious, higher wisdom, knowing something +you can’t explain, stillness, meditation, spell-work and ritual.
+The Bride sits in silence in an underground cistern, two eyes closed +and a third one opened. Upon her head two crescent moons hold the globe. +She is alone, but does not appear to be waiting. The Bride is a figure +of divine wisdom, feminine mystery and intuitive knowledge. She is the +guardian of the unconscious and she is meeting you. By receiving this +card you are being gently led deeper, or asked to go deeper. To artists, +she is the representation of creative potential. The bride has little +care for the material as her powers lay in the true nature of emotion. +Let your intuition lead the way, quiet the chatter of the rational and +logical.
+Reversed
+If you are facing a reversed Bride, is is an indication to examine
+where you are ignoring your gut. Perhaps you have let your thinking mind
+run loose or have not been listening to your gut. You have even be
+overvaluing other’s opinions or acting too hastily. Whichever is it, it
+may be time to be still, reflect and meditate on your intuition.
+
✳ tarot correspondence: 2. the high priestess.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: cancer & pisces.
+.keywords: maternal figure, familiar love, abundance, life force, +strong protection, dignity.
+The Mother sits on a throne in the middle of the river of life force, +a crown upon her head a sword in her hand. In this iconography she is +Juno, Roman goddess of marriage and family. As such, she sits near a +pregnant cow and a peacock eating a pomegranate. Around her nature +thrives. She is the embodiment of femininity and the bringer or life and +growth. Her energy is both nurturing and fiercely protective. She is +appearing to indicate that she is looking after you and your growth. She +is abundant and as such so will your expression be, both creative and +sensual. Deep fulfilment awaits.
+Reversed
+The Mother has appeared reversed. Juno’s warlike nature is more +active than her nurturing side. Your seeking of protection is keeping +your from true love and joy. You were guarding yourself, and while you +were in the right to do so, it is now time to let your shield down. Your +emotional crops are thriving, you have put in the work. Let go of your +war, lean into joy and love.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 3. the empress.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: libra.
+.keywords: belief systems, ancestry, study, tradition, conformity, +learning about the past.
+A priest stands in front of you, one hand to invite you and one +towards the divine. On his shoulders sits a church, the door slightly +ajar. On the bottom, you may see keys. The Church cards beckons you +inside a mysteries sacred place. In Christian belief, a church is not +only where religious community meets but seat of Divinity itself. I +invite you to the Church card as such, and disconnect it from its +Christian imagery. It stands in the place of any established social +structure, spiritual tradition or source of ancestral knowledge. It is a +teacher, a leader, a guru of past memory. If the Church has come up in +your reading, its indicating a need for deeper meaning or knowledge. +Will you use your key to follow the paved road and find out who paved it +and who walked it before you?
+Reversed
+The Church is upside down. Its integrity is questioned, the status +quo stumbles. The pressure of conformity weighs heavy, others’ belief +systems hang above your head. This card is now urging you to move. +Tradition can be a teacher or a jailer and in this case, it is trapping +you. It may be time to shake your ancestors wishes away and start anew, +upon a path you paved yourself.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 4. the hierophant.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: taurus, libra & +capricorn.
+Two hands reach for each other, the space between them filled with +light and eyes. Around their wrists roses are growing. There is an +obvious story being told, of two souls meeting in companionship. +However, this is a card about balance and choices too. The Upside Down +is a reference to love and the two sides of a coin. When this card +appears it speaks of love and strong bonds. It is asking you to choose +love, to make heartfelt, loving, compassionate choices. The Upside Down +is a simple card, asking you to choose. Listen to your heart and follow +it.
+Reversed
+Due to the nature of this card, up is down and down is up. However +you pull this card, it is showing you both the Yin and the Yang. In this +case, however, a sourness is prevalent. The eyes look away, giving you +space to work out and identify within yourself why a committment has +turned sour. Your inner voice is unbalanced. Use your heart for your +choices and seek out harmony.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 5. the lovers.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: gemini.
+.keywords: focused action, self-belief and confidence, +commitment, drive and determination, hard, passionate work, +assertion.
+A chariot flies across a starry sky with two half moons. Inside it, a +man dressed in Roman armour with the head of turtle dove looks straight +at you, welcoming you with one hand. This is the card of control and +victory. The Bird has control of his own fate but it will help you with +it too. It directs you to assert your will with mastery, careful +practice and self-discipline. It reminds you of your own courage and +your strength, an encourages you to direct your energies towards the +stars.
+Reversed
+When reversed, the Bird is spinning further and further out of +control. It may be due to an attempt to control too much, or an +underdeveloped assertiveness. Loosen the reins, redirect your chariot. +Some things are beyond your power to change and some others are just +waiting for your confidence and hard work. Assess which is which and +begin riding.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 6. the chariot.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: cancer.
+.keywords: inner strength and courage, dignified resistance, +emotional labour, heart.
+A naked woman covered in flowers looks to the side, casually taming +the lion in front of her. Behind her, a natural landscape opens up. Do +not be fooled by her gentle appearance, for she is not effortless. Her +strength lies in her heart as this is the card for Breasts. Emotional +weakness is discarded as patriarchal concept, as the Breasts are showing +you a dignified taming of the wild through your heart. Emotion can +steady your demeanour and your inner strength powers you. This indicates +positive emotional labour of your own ferocity and expression of pure +emotional strength. Go to towards your own chest, to the place of pain, +anger, greed, and fear in your life. Acknowledge where these things live +within you and own them, pour love all over them.
+Reversed
+The lion is now overpowering as the Breasts appear upside down. This +is an indication of weakness, your strength feeble as your +self-confidence lessens. Your emotions are no longer a power but an +overwhelming force that you cannot control. Do not let anger or pain +dictate your choice, find your strength once again.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 7. strength.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: leo.
+.keywords: introspection, solitude, retreat, working things through +on your own, claiming space and time for you, self-guided or guided +study.
+A figure cries in a cocoon underwater, wrapped in a cape of their +hair and algae. They are holding themselves, as their tears make their +way up. A light shines from their hands. This figure is in deep +introspection. The Crying card is not a negative card, regardless of +your own view of tears. It indicates a need for comfort and solitude. It +is asking for a moment of introspection, the only thing that may lead +you to true self discovery. Once you have expressed your pain and truly +felt it, you will gain better understanding.
+Reversed
+The tears fall upon you as the Crying card is reversed. You have +relied on yourself too much and over-isolated. The cocoon has served its +purpose, now the time for solitude is over. You may let others in or +leave your safe space altogether for the time for crying is over.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 8. the hermit.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: virgo.
+.keywords: positive luck, change, predictions and prophesies, feeling +like something is ‘destined’ to happen, an interconnected bigger +picture.
+A table is set with plates spelling out the ancient names for tarot +and wheel. In the center of the table you can see water, soil, air and +fire. Around the table sit the four fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio +and Aquarius. Three eyes, symbolising the three Fates oversee the table. +This is an incredibly auspicious card to pick. Like the table, your +destiny has been set, the tempo will crank up as your personal vision +develops into reality. This card is asking you to accept your fate, but +also take responsibility for it. The table is set but it is up to you to +serve.
+Reversed
+The Set Table has been turned the wrong way. This indicated elements +outside your control that are spinning your fate. Luck has not been on +your side and you may have found yourself unhappy with your +circumstances. Take a moment to analyse what could have happened, are +these elements toying with your luck internal or external? Is there +someone to blame, if yes, who is it? Whatever you find, trust that the +Table will be set again, and out of darkness a new light will be born, +informed by your discoveries.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 9. the wheel of fortune.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: aquarius, leo, taurus & +scorpio
+.keywords: truth, logical thought, objectivity, binary thinking, +justice, fairness, balance, accountability, social justice principles, +intersectionality.
+A woman, justice, walks the steps out of darkness, a lament +distorting her face. In the Lament, you can see justice wearing white, +carrying a sword on her waist and holding scales, with a heart on one +end and a brain on the other. Her blindfold stays on as her piercing +eyes penetrate through the truth. It is her cry for truth, her lament, +that propels her forward. This card calls out to you. Every action has +an equal reaction but it is often expression of injustice that brings +justice forward. It is the Lament that leads to balance, believe that +your expression of injustice is worth sharing.
+Reversed
+When the Lament appears reversed it indicates a flawed system, an +hidden truth or bias. This injustice may have been committed against you +or by you, but however it happened the scale are not balances and soon +they will be as someone faces consequences. It also begs for a +re-establishing of a balancing perspective on your side. Look at the +issue from both sides, hear the Lament.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 11. justice.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: libra.
+.keywords: passivity, cost, holding back, patience, allowing events +to unfold, meditation and mindful practice, inner peace, +self-acceptance, overcoming ego
+A man dangles, his foot loosely tied with rope, his wings closed by +his sides, his braid falling beyond sight. Next to him other people +hang, in the same situation. What we see are Purgatory’s Souls, intended +as the souls of people who are in a state of temporary punishment and +purification as they have died in a state of grace but are not yet ready +for heaven. Let the souls be of inspiration to you, in their state of +acceptance, as it is not their work that will send them to heaven. They +are, just like you, ready for peace and joy. What you must do now is +fully succumb to your situation, release. You see, if the soul was to +trust the flow of events and let go, he would realise he had wings all +along. A brazen metaphor, a simple reminder that it’s not time to +struggle for control. Trust the universe, trust yourself and let go.
+Reversed
+As Purgatory’s Souls appear reversed, they tell a different story. +They are not hanging but anchored to the soil. You are pulling yourself +further down, digging your heels in on a decision that has to be made. +Your inaction now is pointless, it will just delay the inevitable. The +souls already can fly, the punishment has been lifted and yet here you +still are. You must face your inner turmoil to move on.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 11. the hanged man.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: pisces.
+.keywords: the ending of a cycle, letting go and saying goodbye, +ritual to honour change, not resisting, honouring the seasons of +life.
+A deer’s skeleton lays on a blooming prairie. Close by, another deer +looks into the sun that is rising above the hills. The Talking Dead card +is a deeply sensitive one, invites a gentle approach. It does not +symbolise necessarily literal death but more so a positive harbinger of +change. The death has already happened, and the deer’s spirit is ready +to move into the coming day. The Talking Dead tells you it is time to +let go of old habits, ways of thinking and of the buried. This is the +only way to allow for more rewarding patterns. Resisting change will not +bring you joy at this stage, you must embrace transformation. There is +no other way, a profound experience is awaiting you, let the resting +lead you.
+Reversed
+If the card is reversed it appears that the Talking Dead is being +forced still. Changes are frightening you and you may be resisting them. +Your life is now stagnant, the sunrise is eternal as the sun never +reaches the sky. Trust that change will lead you wherever you need to +be. It is not a matter of avoiding what has happened, but rather of +learning to live with what it brought in the hope that better things lay +ahead.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 12. death.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: scorpio.
+.keywords: balance, harmony, blending of dualities, seeking the +middle path, not making extreme decisions, taking a non-binary attitude, +testing the waters, self-care, grace, gentleness.
+A large, winged, genderless dark figure stands in the sea. On their +forehead shines a triangle enclosed in a square, representing that +humans are bound by the Earth and natural law. The figure is taking +water from the sea but as they pour it into the bowl, it transforms into +a bowl of steaming soup. This card gives insight into the nuances of +balance. Wherever something is taken, something else must be given. The +figure is taking from the sea to deliver you the Warm Soup. See the +figure as if it was keeping a close eye on how well you handle +dualities. Keep to the middle path, do not make extreme decisions. You +may someone who tends to have a peaceful nature or someone who swings +between extremes. Either way, now is the time to test the waters of +gentleness, give back what you have been given and ask for what was +taken.
+Reversed
+The Warm Soup now pours upwards from the ladle. Something has been +thrown off balance in your life. The coming times require meticulous +care of balance. Equilibrium has to be restored once again. The costs +may be too high for what you are receiving from the universe. You must +reconsider your choices, find the weak point that has thrown off the +balance and adjust it.
+A ✳ tarot correspondence: 13. temperance.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: sagittarius.
+.keywords: bondage, addiction, materialism, destructive behaviours, +harmful cycles, choosing to get free, or choosing not to get free, +confronting fear, committing to your own freedom.
+Above a reversed pentacle five little devils dance naked, holding a +chain that leads to a circle of light containing a key. The Devils +symbolise what keeps us bound and trapped. It is a small circle that +contains you, a metaphorical jail to which you do not yet have a key. +This card cautions you against finding blame, and refers instead to that +which is constrained by ourself, our subconscious and direct choices. Do +not let ideas, people or situations absorb you so intensely that it +causes you to ignore other relationships.
+Reversed
+The Devils being upside down immediately reveals the bondage, you are +aware of your own chains. The unhealthy and trapping dynamics in your +life are finally emerging to the light. Caution, as this does not imply +freedom but may entail further temptation to crawl back into your own +trap. This is a time that needs your complete attention, use your +newfound awareness to open the chains, escape your metaphorical +jail.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 14. the devil.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: capricorn.
+.keywords: revolution, disaster, shock, mourning, blowing apart old +structures, demolition of the status quo, toppling systems of power, +potential, rebuilding after disaster, a blessing in disguise as a +disaster, rehabilitation, regeneration.
+An ancient pine tree towers in the night. Above, the all-seeing Storm +is unleashing lightening, cutting the tree down as birds escape. The +Storm, as the name suggests, is a complicated card to receive. It +indicates a profound disruption, a complete reset of the known. The +situation may seem grim at times, but it is fundamental that you +understand that the change that will be brought is undeniably ultimately +positive. You may not believe me at first, as the event that this card +indicates is a demolition and toppling of a structure that can feel +quite devastating. However, new growth will come from this and the old +cannot last forever lest it become decrepit. Remember well that when the +Storm appears in front of you, you are not the tree but the doves +escaping.
+Reversed
+In this situation the Storm that topples the pine tree is coming from +within. The issue is within your response to the situation, your worries +within your own head. Your perception is bringing you great pain. Take +care not to become a vortex of negativity, you must be mindful of your +own feelings and take responsibility of how your responses affect you +and those around you.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 15. the tower.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: scorpio & aries.
+.keywords: hope, love and support, coming home to yourself, +self-care, healing, being true to yourself, being guided by your +intuition, integrity, honesty,a positive new start or new vision.
+A Christmas tree sits lit by candles, next to a window. On the +windowsill sits a still warm cup of cocoa, framed by the view of an +enormous star illuminates the snowy field. Christmas is a card of hope. +A time of renewal, comfort and homely-ness lays ahead. It is now time to +leave the hard times behind. The star shines alone through the window, +filling the landscape with positivity and opportunity. It is
+✳ tarot correspondence: 16. the star.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: aquarius.
+.keywords: shadow work, getting in touch with your wild nature, +listening deeply to your intuition, secrets, signs and symbols, +non-rational, witchcraft, magic and spell-work, lies and deception, +deceiving yourself, wearing a mask.
+A wolf drinks from a pond of blood. Close by, a wild dog turns away +from the pond to face the moon that illuminates all around them. A crab +floats on a leaf, rising from the subconscious. The Blood is telling you +that all is not what it seems. Unsettling as a nightmare can be, this +card allows your inner wildness to be seem. The Blood represents +witchcraft, spell-work and occult arts of any kind. Do not be fooled by +the blood, as nobody in this figure is harmed. The moon shines its +silvery light on the elements within reality that are dishonest and +manipulative. Uncomfortable questions have to be asked and it may by +just someone just mad enough to think of them. Things are strange, it is +okay to feel disorientated. It is not time for answers now but for wild +magical practice.
+Reversed
+When reversed, the Blood shows a moon shining in the front. The inner +confusion is clearing. However, you may find find yourself deprived of a +mask you are not ready to let go of. Manipulation has been exposed, +wether you were the victim of perpetrator. While things will soon be +lighter, now they will first be heavy. Mental health struggles as the +truth comes forward and you initiate a process of complete honesty with +yourself.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 17. the moon.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: pisces.
+.keywords: positivity, saying yes, joy, practicing gratitude, +success, things coming together, life’s simple pleasures, allowing +yourself to simply be, connecting to a dynamic life force.
+Two children laugh in harmony on a horse, holding each other and a +waving flag. The sun shines on them and sunflowers are growing around +them. Laughter is an undoubtledly positive card. It represents +enthusiasm, growth and victory. Your good choices will pay off, you will +laugh again soon as victory is so close you may taste it already. Joy +will fill your heart and life will once again seem light-hearted and +effortless.
+Reversed
+Laughter is reversed, but do not panic. Victory is just not as close +as you thought it would be. A setback has brought you back into a +quieter place. There is a key element missing before you may achieve +that state of perfect joy. The effort will now need to be given to +finding once again things that make your heart swell up with joy, the +things that make you walk so light you feel you may just fly away. +Follow them and soon Laughter will come back.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 18. the sun.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: leo.
+keywords: hope, love and support, coming home to yourself, self-care, +healing, being true to yourself, being guided by your intuition, +integrity, honesty, a positive new start or new vision.
+A Christmas tree sits lit by candles, next to a window. On the +windowsill sits a still warm cup of cocoa, framed by the view of an +enormous star illuminates the snowy field. Christmas is a card of hope. +A time of renewal, comfort and homely-ness lays ahead. It is now time to +leave the hard times behind. The star shines alone through the window, +filling the landscape with positivity and opportunity. It is
+✳ tarot correspondence: 16. the star.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: aquarius.
+.keywords: positivity, saying yes, joy, practicing gratitude, +success, things coming together, life’s simple pleasures, allowing +yourself to simply be, connecting to a dynamic life force.
+Two children laugh in harmony on a horse, holding each other and a +waving flag. The sun shines on them and sunflowers are growing around +them. Laughter is an undoubtedly positive card. It represents +enthusiasm, growth and victory. Your good choices will pay off, you will +laugh again soon as victory is so close you may taste it already. Joy +will fill your heart and life will once again seem light-hearted and +effortless.
+Reversed
+Laughter is reversed, but do not panic. Victory is just not as close +as you thought it would be. A setback has brought you back into a +quieter place. There is a key element missing before you may achieve +that state of perfect joy. The effort will now need to be given to +finding once again things that make your heart swell up with joy, the +things that make you walk so light you feel you may just fly away. +Follow them and soon Laughter will come back.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 18. the sun.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: leo.
+.keywords: liberation, freedom, casting off shackles, laying down of +old baggage, total accountability for self, integrity, honesty, +forgiveness, allowing yourself to move forwards.
+A woman with rollers in her hair stands on a balcony, looking down, +where a swarm of butterflies is emerging from the darkness. This is a +lofty card, as, like Lament and the Set Table, it carries the theme of +accountability. In this particular case it talks about being honest and +thorough about yourself. The Gossiping Woman sees all of you and calls +you to do the same. It is holding a mirror to your entire life, +successes and failure. You must face the Gossiping Woman to liberate +yourself and fly towards freedom. To move forward unencumbered it +requires acknowledgement of the present moment and everything that it +carries.
+Reversed
+The Gossiping Woman now may not see you. This is an indication that +you are refusing to acknowledge the hurt or pain that was caused to you +and the one that you have caused yourself. However, you must own +mistakes and let them be just that. When the Gossiping Woman is +reversed, it is asking you to find forgiveness, for yourself and others. +It will be hard work and possibly take a great amount of time, but the +Gossiping Woman watches and is rooting for you to be able to free +yourself of this burden.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 19. judgement.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: scorpio.
+.keywords: completion, a sense of wholeness, knowing who you are in +the world, having a sense of place, feeling deeply connected to all +things, reaching your goal, celebration, jubilation.
+Three friends are celebrating, drinking Good Wine and dancing on the +world, surrounded by a crown of vines for victory. One holds a flag and +another a wand, bringing your journey to closure. This is the end of the +road, the last card in this deck. The spiritual guide that brought you +Coffee now has brought you here. The completion of the cycle and the +celebration that comes thereafter. You have changed and grown and now +the energy of wholeness shines. Soon it will dissipate as life shifts +into a new beginning but for now, the Good Wine urges you to relish in +your successes. One day you will surrender again to the flow and +remember that you are the same person that started this journey, filled +with infinite possibilities.
+Reversed
+The Good Wine may not be drunk yet, completion is not within reach +yet. The end seemed in sight but you tried cutting corners and there is +still work to be done. The result will only bring fulfilment if the +effort has been thorough and earnest. Keep dreaming, keep working and +soon the Good Wine will be yours.
+✳ tarot correspondence: 20. the world.
+✳ zodiac correspondence: all signs.
+The only reason I’m still here is because you’re still here. 😋
+and a dream about flying. +Following the discussions we had about the texts ‘Notes on +Deconstructing The Popular’ by Stuart Hall and ‘Game Modding: Cross-Over +Mutation and Unwelcome Gifts’ from The Player’s Power to Change the Game +by Anne-Marie Schleiner, we split into groups and started dissecting the +ideology behind games some of us have played as children. To do that, we +utilised several prompts to help us examine the ideology that two +popular video games enforce through their narrative and gameplay. The +list of questions we needed to answer while playing the game includes: +What are the win conditions? If the game is quest based, what types of +quests are you asked to complete? What is the gameplay? What is the +narrative? How much space is there for alternative ways of playing this +game? What is missing? What type of relationships are you allowed to +form? What is the role of non-player characters? What are the +requirements for surviving the game? Which behaviours are rewarded? What +real-world values are reproduced in the game you are playing? How are +you situated in the hierarchy of the game? What change in status is +promised? What are you being trained for? What fantasies are lived out +or explored?
+Our team, Irmak, Ada and Boyana, worked on the famous Papa Louie: +When Pizzas Attack. Soon after we started investigating the game, its +elements and modifications, we discovered that other people already have +done numerous fan fiction about it. We were bewitched by this the +multitude of stories fans have written and the really good memes they +have created about Papa and his businesses. Yes, plural. Freezeria. +Sushiria. Donuteria. Burgeria. PanCakeria. CupCakeria. Taco Mia. You +name it.
+After spending some time analysing the ideology behind the game, we +discovered a few elements that reinforce the capitalist narrative, such +as the need to fight to survive and collect coins to purchase weapons. +In response, we decided to create a new version of the game with a +storyline that focuses on healing and coping with grief and loss, rather +than violence. Also, to link the new storyline to SI20’s topic we felt +like adding somehow ritualistic elements as actions during the +gameplay.
+What we decided to change was the topic, purpose and outcome of the +game. Papa no longer fights to save his customers, but he deals with his +own loss and grief over what happened. Our version is promoting rest and +rituals for healing instead of revenge-seeking, violence and toxic +pizzeria culture.
+We started by putting some keywords and suggestions on a blackboard +about “How To Cope With Grief” and “How to Use Rituals and Ceremonies to +Overcome Grief” to define what Papa Louie lost and what rituals could +help him heal.
+We also liked the idea of making a comic-like storyboard that +visualises the new narrative for Papa Louie’s Ghosteria. To create a few +scenes depicting some of the 5 levels we outlined earlier, we used an +app called Papa Louie Pals. The images turned out pretty nice! Playing +around with the app was fun mainly because it allowed us to materialise +our idea in just a couple of hours.
+The gameplay revolves around things Papa lost and the needs he needs +to fulfil. Different types of losses are organised into five levels of +the game: 1. loss of safety (innocence, physical safety) 2. loss of +community (clients, belonging) 3. loss of future (hope, dreams) 4. loss +of identity (dignity, making things himself) 5. loss of labour (money, +time, effort, pizza)
+To cope with grief, Papa Louie performs various rituals to unlock a +new stage in his grieving process and heal from that loss. Rituals are +the actions players need to execute at each level.
+And so our story goes like this: The Onion ring mafia kidnapped Papà +Louie’s clients, and he lost his Pizzeria. However, along with this +external change, he lost his identity as a pizza owner/maker. He is full +of grief and seeks ways to cope with grief and ease himself. He tries +different rituals throughout this process, builds his new identity and +overcomes his troubles.
+ +i deleted it woops. i want to write a paragraph about my mindfulness +
i deleted it woops. i want to write a paragraph about my mindfulness game here.
+i deleted it woops. i want to write a paragraph about my mindfulness +game here.
+rituals_archive will go here
+rituals_archive will go here
+Tetris is a game where a single player is encouraged to organise the +chaos given to them from above, a limited space for play of ten by +twenty units leads to a limited ability to approach the perfection +implied by the simple shapes that are encountered in the world (always a +collection of four squares, in their seven permutations). The harnesses +of time and gravity make perfection impossible in this world; instead +the player can only attempt, approach, increase their efficiency. A +life’s function approaching the limit, there is no way to win, only to +get higher and higher scores, to live as long as possible through +increased throughput. Death is inevitable in Tetris, and each passing +block seems to come faster than the last. Why does it feel like +everything just keeps getting harder?
+There are many squares to be organised in tetris, an infinite number +apparently, but there is only one player organising them. Other people +can only be seen by this individual in faint ghosts; their high scores +that are there only to be beaten. And the current player can only hope +to reach those people through leaving their own mark on the high score +table. Employee-of-the-month, world’s-best-mom. But maybe there is an +alternative, a world where there is more to each falling tetromino than +simply an obstacle to be overcome, a problem to be solved. Maybe there +is a story behind the fatal pixels, a bigger space than the 10 x 20 grid +on the screen. Maybe there are humans out there with more to them than +what they produce.
+This fanfic takes the form of a series of hand-drawn illustrations +depicting fantastical tetris pieces, each of which is accompanied by a +fragment of a story. The cards can be read and arranged in any order, +intentionally removing the linear and framed limits of the original +tetris, although the illustration and text on any one card have a +relationship to eachother of some sort.
++ +
+My text-adventure game was (first and foremost a struggle and) an +attempt to dive a little bit into the world of python and deal +peacefully with the potential trauma of coding. The first unsuccessful +try started by making a map on paper with all the possible rooms, +corridors, spaces and the potential inputs of the player. It was proved +to be a too ambitious plan though. So this was the time when the +super(de)construction game was born! My intention was to make a fan +fiction text adventure game(!) of the marxist superstructure theory. +There are three basic rooms where the player can navigate : the +Base-ment, the Apparatus and the Megaroom. People can grab specific +“objects” from each room and check their inventory (for example you can +have unpaidlabour, church, mostlywhitemen from base-ment, apparatus and +megaroom respectively in the same bag!). The aim of the game is to +accumulate enough points in order to bring eventually the revolution and +win. The fermentation and the radicalization happen only in the +base-ment. Will you be part of the revolutionary class?
+