Frequency
The Haindl Tarot
First things first, the famous eye.
I would like to hear your opinions on how to exlpain the symbolism of the eye to those curious about the Haindl tarot. Whenever someone talks about the Haindl people always complain about how much it scares them, intimidates them, or simply upsets them. When I looked at the eye up close for the first time, there was something about it that was very peculiar. However, it never bothered me. I stared at it for a long time looking for something and I saw the tear. It's a strange image to put on the back of a tarot card, but I feel it reflects a very quiet and sombre pain. This mood is reflected throughout the cards. Thus this eye is an important part of what makes the Haindl so special. It's a very passionate deck, and I think maybe the way it warps many of the traditional meanings is not something some people can appreciate.
It's not a particularly uplifting deck sometimes, but it's a very simple looking one. At the heart of this simple imagery at first glance are some very peculiar shapes and very dreamlike imagery. Whenever I think of the artwork I'm reminded of a word: awe. This tarot has many of the best images in the art. It's a strange mix of black humour, stabbing pain, and tender fingers forcing a smile onto your face.
Some famous examples of it's interpretations:
A flying nightmare of a mouse chases after a bunch of scared cats in the 10 of Wands.
The blade in the Ace of Swords thrusting down onto a hill with it's surrounding waters in some major turbulance.
In the Seven of Stones, A massive stone pillar collapses onto a wall, causing massive destuction, as blood seeps from all areas through holes and out of cracks.
In the Five of Swords, a horse's head gazes upwards in despair as four broken swords fall to the abyss with him.
The Emperor stands with such confidence, that he becomes part of the tree behind him, or is he the strong tree itself?
In the Three of Cups, a single drop hovers above a cup that pours water into two others, which then pour into a pool in the interior of a cave. A rock is poised almost like a shark's fin waiting in the depths.
Look at the other images long enough, and I'm sure you'll swear to have seen numerous strange animals, faces, arms, and legs where you didn't before.
In the words of Rachel Pollack...
"These seventy-eight paintings reflect Haindls devotion to nature, his recognition of the feminine, his travels, his encounters with holy teachers and spirits, his respect for all peoples, his political belief in responsibility for the past and future, and the crises that have shaped his understanding. Drawn to the cards by their unique art, many thousands of people have found their lives changed, sometimes quite dramaticaly."
First things first, the famous eye.
I would like to hear your opinions on how to exlpain the symbolism of the eye to those curious about the Haindl tarot. Whenever someone talks about the Haindl people always complain about how much it scares them, intimidates them, or simply upsets them. When I looked at the eye up close for the first time, there was something about it that was very peculiar. However, it never bothered me. I stared at it for a long time looking for something and I saw the tear. It's a strange image to put on the back of a tarot card, but I feel it reflects a very quiet and sombre pain. This mood is reflected throughout the cards. Thus this eye is an important part of what makes the Haindl so special. It's a very passionate deck, and I think maybe the way it warps many of the traditional meanings is not something some people can appreciate.
It's not a particularly uplifting deck sometimes, but it's a very simple looking one. At the heart of this simple imagery at first glance are some very peculiar shapes and very dreamlike imagery. Whenever I think of the artwork I'm reminded of a word: awe. This tarot has many of the best images in the art. It's a strange mix of black humour, stabbing pain, and tender fingers forcing a smile onto your face.
Some famous examples of it's interpretations:
A flying nightmare of a mouse chases after a bunch of scared cats in the 10 of Wands.
The blade in the Ace of Swords thrusting down onto a hill with it's surrounding waters in some major turbulance.
In the Seven of Stones, A massive stone pillar collapses onto a wall, causing massive destuction, as blood seeps from all areas through holes and out of cracks.
In the Five of Swords, a horse's head gazes upwards in despair as four broken swords fall to the abyss with him.
The Emperor stands with such confidence, that he becomes part of the tree behind him, or is he the strong tree itself?
In the Three of Cups, a single drop hovers above a cup that pours water into two others, which then pour into a pool in the interior of a cave. A rock is poised almost like a shark's fin waiting in the depths.
Look at the other images long enough, and I'm sure you'll swear to have seen numerous strange animals, faces, arms, and legs where you didn't before.
In the words of Rachel Pollack...
"These seventy-eight paintings reflect Haindls devotion to nature, his recognition of the feminine, his travels, his encounters with holy teachers and spirits, his respect for all peoples, his political belief in responsibility for the past and future, and the crises that have shaped his understanding. Drawn to the cards by their unique art, many thousands of people have found their lives changed, sometimes quite dramaticaly."
