The Geometric Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Ravenswing	02 Apr 2003
Well... As you may remember, Laurel and I have been working on a deck for about six months now. She gave me the slant, I produced the images. It seems that Laurel must be tied up; she hasn't given me directives for some time, and she is rather unresponsive... In the interum, I am going over what has been done, unifying it and adding much on a mathematic level--Discoveries and remembrances that have come to me along the way. We thought that we were designing what Laurel called 'the tarot of the four worlds'. In January, she decided that the deck in progress was not the one that she had originally concieved of. And so, I'm dubbing it 'the geometric tarot' . The reasons for that will be quite obvious as things go along. Perhaps by the time I've completed re-visiting the cards already done, Laurel will return in her role and guide the production. If not, I've put too much energy, time and self into these to let them lie fallow. I've let too many other thing uncompleted. Enough with the introduction. Here's the first of the Geometric Tarot. It's the Ace of Cups. Each of the aces will be 'encased' in a geometric solid-- the root energy of the suit. Ace of Wands is within a tetrahedron. Ace of Cups is within a cuboctohedron. Ace of Swords in within an octohedron. Ace of Pentacles is within a icosohedron. I am much in debted to the majick of Photoshop for the construction of the images from a series of layers.... fly well live life Raven

Athara	02 Apr 2003
Wow! To me that card radiates warmth. Deep feelings. Very well drawn! It's important that you feel something when looking at the cards, and I certainly have a feeling with this one... I can't wait for your next card!

coldsuns	02 Apr 2003
Thats a very nice 3D picture. I mean the shape of the diamond. Well-drawn. It gives a very good feeling. Very accurate. But the coloring is not that prefect. If is colored without white spacing, that will be much more nicer!

Melvis	02 Apr 2003
I continue to be awed by this deck. I really can't wait for publication! Actually, yes I can wait. Going through this process of creation "with" you, Ravenswing, has been rather enlightening. It's like the unfolding of an incredibly complex flower -- each card that is created and 'opened to the light' is like a microcosm of the whole deck, because you think back over the other cards with every new card. It's probably the best way to be introduced to a deck -- one card at a time, with time for reflection between cards. So, don't stop Ravenswing! Keep working on the Geometric Deck, and we'll be right here with you, egging you on! :D Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

Ravenswing	02 Apr 2003
coldsuns-- I think I'm reading you right here. Let me make it clearer: the card IS the hexagonal shape, the white is just the background it's sitting on. fly well think hex... Raven

Icarus	02 Apr 2003
I really like the tatwas in this deck. I think Melvis has said everything else i'm feeling towards this deck. It's a welcome birth in the tarot family! william

coldsuns	02 Apr 2003
Hehe. Sorry, i dont know whats the shape. So just call it the "diamond" shape. Which part of the backgroud? I'm refering to the purple hand. Hm..just though the color is rather fade. Never mind. But the drawings are very nice. The hand behind the cup has a very nice of dark orange color.

Ravenswing	05 Apr 2003
hi all-- The Ace of Swords is encased in an octohedron. Octahedron is form creating energy storage. You can think of it as two pyramids stuck base to base.... Pyramids draw in energy through triangular sides, release it towards/through the square base. Octahedron draw in energy; it focuses and builds at the center point where the two bases meet. If too much builds up, it explodes, and form is recycled. If not, form is retained and drops down toward the realm of Pentacle... Anyhow, here's the vision: fly well Raven

Ravenswing	06 Apr 2003
good evening all: the ace of pentacles is encased in an icosahedron. This can be considered the 'female' shape as the tetrahedron (which is associated with the Wands-- next card up) is the 'male'. The icosahedron can also be look at as the cosmic egg. fly well Raven

Ravenswing	08 Apr 2003
And here, finally, the fourth ace--Wands. This one is encased in a tetrahedron, but not fully encased. Since the Ace of Wands buts up against the realm of the negative veils, it is not fully 'dis-connected from them. You might also note the the wand is the only of the four tools which comes into contact with the spirit/tattwa symbol. Anyway-- here's the image fly well Raven

Aerin	09 Apr 2003
I really like this. Since hexagons tessalate, you should be able to do some really interesting and innovative spreads with the deck as well. Aerin

Ravenswing	11 Apr 2003
The Magician... fly well Raven

RedWood	11 Apr 2003
Great going Ravens! always good to see new cards!

Strange2	12 Apr 2003
Wonderful to see your new creations! I really like the semi-transparent layered images on these cards! What technique are you using to do that?

Ravenswing	12 Apr 2003
strange2-- I do a finalized rough sketch, no real fine details, on bristol board. Then I cover it with tracing paper and, with prismacolor pencils, color a background without any figures, etc. Then each figure, etc. is drawn and colored on tracing paper. These layers are assembled in photoshop. Once I get the images stacked the way I want them, I play around with the degree of transparency of each item 'til I get what I want. This composite gets saved as the image. For example, the temple in the background is five layers. The top triangle of the temple. the 'inside' of the top of the temple, a set of purple beams, the set of colored 'columns', and the base. This layering gives me the same effect as my oil paintings, but it's a much faster process. There's no paint to wait to set.....

Ravenswing	13 Apr 2003
hi guys-- today's working-- the two of wands.... so now both decks i'm working are at the same place. I'm searching out and hope to construct a web page real soon. But in the meantime, I've got some text about the cards to get together. Busy, busy.... that's how I like life fly well raven

The The Geometric Tarot thread was originally posted on 02 Apr 2003 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.