Unless otherwise stated, all photography, illustrations and other type of visualisations in this publication are created by the same authors as the text. That which is below is like that which is above and that which is above is like that which is below, to do the miracle of one only thing.
Unless otherwise stated, all photography and illustrations in this publication are created by the same authors as the text. That which is below is like that which is above and that which is above is like that which is below, to do the miracle of one only thing.
### Digital Tools
This book was created with the help of a collection of not-so-small and extremely sharp open source tools, to name a few: paged.js, pandoc, pdfimpose, pdftk, and our darling demon Inkscape. So was the world created. From this are and do come admirable adaptations where the means is here in this.
This book was created with the help of a collection of not-so-small and extremely sharp open source tools, to name a few; paged.js, pandoc, pdfimpose, pdftk, and our darling demon inkscape. So was the world created. From this are and do come admirable adaptations where of the means is here in this.
XPUB is the Master of Arts in Fine Art and Design: Experimental Publishing of the Piet Zwart Institute. XPUB focuses on the acts of making things public and creating publics in the age of post-digital networks. Find out more at xpub.nl
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:::::{#title-page}
#CONSOLE
####xpub special issue xx
Console is an oracle; an emotional first aid kit that helps you help yourself.
Console invites you to open the box and discover ways of healing;
Console provides shelter for your dreams, memories and worries.
Face the past and encounter your fortune.
Console gives you a new vantage point; a set of rituals and practices that help you cope and care;
Console asks everyday questions that give magical answers.
Are you ready to play?
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:::::{#acknowledgements}
##<3thispublicationmadepossiblethanksto:
Lídia Pereira (ed.)
Artemis Gryllaki (ed.)
Manetta Berends
Joseph Knierzinger
Steve Rushton
Leslie Robbins
Michael Murtaugh
Sébastien Tien and the Page Not Found team
Anna M. Szaflarski
Paul DD Smith
Shana Moulton
Bérénice Serra
The Sun is its father
The Moon its mother
The Wind hath carried it in its belly
The Earth is its nurse
### Photography and Illustration
Unless otherwise stated, all photography, illustrations and other type of visualisations in this publication are created by the same authors as the text. That which is below is like that which is above and that which is above is like that which is below, to do the miracle of one only thing.
### Digital Tools
This book was created with the help of a collection of not-so-small and extremely sharp open source tools, to name a few: paged.js, pandoc, pdfimpose, pdftk, and our darling demon Inkscape. So was the world created. From this are and do come admirable adaptations where the means is here in this.
###Printing and Binding
Just lil old us.
### Typeface
Work Sans by Wei Huang.
Consolation by us.
That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished and ended.
@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ A table is set with plates spelling out the ancient names for tarot and wheel. I
*Reversed*
The Set Table has been turned the wrong way. This indicated elements outside your control, spinning your fate. Luck has not been on your side and you may have been unhappy with your circumstances. Take a moment to analyse what could have happened. Are the elements toying with your luck internal or external? Is there someone to blame, if so, who? 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.
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.
@ -234,11 +234,11 @@ The Set Table has been turned the wrong way. This indicated elements outside you
A woman, justice, walks the steps out of darkness, a lament distorts her face. In the Lament, you see justice wearing white, carrying a sword on her waist and holding scales, with a heart on one side and a brain on the other. Her eyes are closed but the piercing light around her penetrates to 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 an expression of injustice that brings justice forward. It is the Lament that leads to balance. Believe that your expression of injustice is worth sharing.
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 eyes are closed but the piercing light around her penetrates to 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, a hidden truth or bias. This injustice may have been committed against you or by you. However it happened, the scales are not balanced, but soon they will be as someone faces consequences. It also begs for you to re-balance your perspective. Look at the issue from both sides, hear the Lament.
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.
@ -249,11 +249,11 @@ When the Lament appears reversed it indicates a flawed system, a hidden truth or
.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 braids falling beyond sight. Next to him others hang, in the same situation. We see Purgatory's Souls, the souls of people in a state of temporary punishment and purification, in a state of grace but not yet ready to enter heaven. Let the souls be an 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. If the soul trusts the flow of events and lets go, he realises he has had wings all along. A brazen metaphor, a simple reminder that it is not time to struggle for control. Trust the universe, trust yourself and let go.
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 can already can, the punishment has been lifted and yet here you still are. You must face your inner turmoil to move on.
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.
@ -264,11 +264,11 @@ As Purgatory's Souls appear reversed, they tell a different story. They are not
.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 rising above the hills. The Talking Dead card is deeply sensitive and invites a gentle approach. It does not necessarily symbolise literal death but is 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, you must embrace transformation. There is no other way, a profound experience awaits you. Let the resting lead you.
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 are being forced to be still. Changes frighten you and you may resist 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.
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.
@ -279,11 +279,11 @@ If the card is reversed it appears that the Talking Dead are being forced to be
.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, genderless, dark figure stands in the sea. On their forehead shines a triangle enclosed in a square, representing how humans are bound by the Earth and natural law. The figure takes 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.
A large, 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 must be restored. The costs may be too high for what you receive from the universe. You must reconsider your choices, find the weak point that has thrown you off the balance and adjust it.
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.
.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.
Five little devils dance naked above a reversed pentacle. They hold a chain that leads to a circle of light containing a key. The Devils symbolise that which keeps us bound and trapped. It is a small circle containing 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.
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 dynamics in your life that keep you trapped are finally emerging into the light. Caution, this does not imply freedom but may entail further temptation which leads you to crawl back into your own trap. This is a time that needs your complete attention, use your newfound awareness to break the chains and escape your jail.
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.
@ -309,11 +309,11 @@ The Devils being upside down immediately reveals the bondage, you are aware of y
.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 maritime 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 you must understand that the change being brought is ultimately positive. You may find this hard to believe, the event that this card indicates is the 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.
An ancient maritime 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, be mindful of your own feelings and take responsibility of how your responses affect you and those around you.
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.
@ -35,8 +35,6 @@ What was changed was the topic, purpose and outcome of the game. Papa no longer
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 then made a comic-like storyboard that visualised the new narrative for Papa Louie's Ghosteria. To create a few scenes depicting some of the 5 levels we outlined, 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 the five levels of the game:
@ -52,21 +50,6 @@ To cope with grief Papa Louie performed various rituals, each unlocking a new st
And so our story went like this:
The Onion ring mafia kidnapped Papa Louie's clients, and he lost his Pizzeria. However, along with this external change, he lost his identity as a pizza owner/maker. He was full of grief and seeked ways to cope with grief and ease himself. He tried different rituals throughout this process, built his new identity and overcame his troubles.
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## Papa Louie’s Text-Adventure Healing
Following this comic production, a small text-adventure Pyhton game was developed following the same storyline. The game was fundamentally an explorative game, in which the player could follow four levels of healing. Playing as Papa Louie and helping him heal his shattered soul, the player would go in each room and type "take" or "carry" to pick up possibilties for healing. The possbilities for each room were:
1. empty pizzeria: [closure,catharsis, anger]
2. living room: [connection,understanding,support]
3. study room: [expression,hope,new experiences]
4. bedroom: [self-discovery,self-care]
5. kitchen: [work,nourishment,purpose].
Once one had picked up enough healing chances, the game would end and thank you for healing papa. The following picture shows the introductory illustration.
