Weather Cards

[room]

Due to a conversation here I decided to make my own weather cards:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?p=1124127

I nearly bought some weather cards ages ago, but the kiddie ones are basic and the Knowledge Cards are a quiz deck--I prefer decks that open up a subject enough to tie them in with oracles or tarot. I'm not looking for a correct answer, more of an exploration of meaning and history.

I checked a couple of Internet sites for basic glossary, but they didn't have pictures, which made the idea dead for me.

So I ended up buying a cheap ex-library used copy of "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Weather" which covers just about everything and has glorious photography.

If I don't make cards I would choose a random entry from the book and use that with some deck of cards or other. I've always wanted to do this.

I have some interesting clip art borders with clouds, lightning etc. that I could use on cards. Be neat to split the deck I make up into sections or suits for different phenomena.

[AJ]

cool idea!
Because photography is one of my interests I've been collecting my own weather related images for a personal oracle. Snow on a leaf, sunbaked clay etc.

[room]

I'm a terrible photographer, there's no way I could do my own. I had thought to paint them but I think for identification purposes a photo is better.

I've just spent a couple hours doing up a template with graphics. I did rounded corners right on this one for cutting. I made them 4 x 6 inches or so with the text right on the cards. I like informational cards like that. I will resize them because I can only get 2 on a sheet of card at that size.

I haven't got the scale right on the cloud and positioning of text--the text box will be filled down to the bottom of the page; photos are being pasted into the cloud so I'll have adjustments. Not sure what font I want to use either. I want it simple, I can't stand fussy cards with gobs of cheesy filter effects and such. I prefer nice, clean illustrations and text.

Preliminary work just so I could get an idea. Lots of fiddling to do.

AJ--I knew there must be someone else in the world fancied something like this. Do you think there are more of us? <g>

[AJ]

Sure there are, but they are glued to the Weather Channel instead of AT. They just haven't realized they can play with the weather and map their future with it instead of just watching it and talking about it.

If we could put up a weather oracle ad on the Weather Channel we'd tip this site over with new enthusiasts.

[bleuivy]

Wow - that's a fabulous idea! Weather cards sound like they would be so evocative. The weather is something that effects my mood more than anything else, I think. I just love the idea of weather cards!

Alright, now I'm going to be devoting lots of brainpower to the idea and meanings of cards based on the weather. Look what you've made me do!

PS -- I've been toying with the idea of going to a used book store, buyinga cheap, old book, cuting out the photos, sticking them to cards, and seeing what comes of it. I just haven't gotten around to it.

[Sheri]

I think you have a great idea, Room!

I really like the look of the card you created yourself. It has a mystical quality about it - like fortune teller cards.

I can't wait to see how your deck progresses!

valeria

[room]

Don't even talk about the Weather Channel, my father and older sister are glued to the Weather Channel and talk of nothing else. I never watch it, you get the weather you get, I'm a fatalist.

So, lots of interest in this one? Great, I really think blueivy hit it when she said "evocative." Our entire lives revolve around the weather, how much does it affect us and our moods and situations? Ask the bride who got married on the day it poured rain. Ask people in Louisiana or Florida how they feel about weather. We've all had sunburns and days so humid we could hardly breathe, and snowmen and shovelling driveways and soft rain in the spring when the earth smells so good.

Everybody has those moments.

It's fate and fortune and being in the wrong place, and being threatened or uplifted by nature. What could be better for allusions in an oracle, and you can personalize it so much when you make your own.

[bleuivy]

Great stories, room, and they really illustrate - for me, anyway - why a weather oracle would be perfect. Hot, humid days remind me of carefree summer afternoons and ice cream cones. Grey days in winter remind me of fireplaces and being wrapped up in a blanket. The weather really does impact us so profoundly. For me, the value of weather cards would be in the emotional responses they would trigger.

I can't believe I hadn't thought of it before, but I love the idea of a weather based oracle!

[room]

The main focus is the identifying photograph so I don't want to detract too much from it.

I'm not sure if it's overkill, but I might try to fit a small graphic at the bottom of a wave and have it at a lower opacity behind the text. I'm also keeping the card at the large size--when printed out it's nice to hold and looks good propped up for viewing.

I'm going to get good practice writing a précis for each card. Whew. I'm a verbal rambler, think of the discipline I shall develop!

[room]

I'm on a Chronicle Books card deck hunt. See here:

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread...42#post1126042

I decided that since I'd finally found this botanical deck in stock, and another one called The Deep Sleep Deck that I've wanted, that I would buy the deck Games for Your Brain: Wild Weather, which is also published by Chronicle Books.

I am still doing my own deck but perhaps with more abstract weather definitions and concepts than stuff like "Thunder" Hurricane" or "Tornado."

Go to this page and click on "Look Inside" to see several of the cards.
http://www.chroniclebooks.com/site/c...24&store=books