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| Posted: Tue Apr 7th, 2009 05:12 am |
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shadowdancer
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We have posted a few images on AT, but I would like to share our project here also.
So, what is the Tarot of Innocence?
A world of fae folk who interact in different ways to reflect the emotions, experiences and stories we know from the traditional RWS deck. The characters are fae, but the scenes depicted are all scenes which we would resonate with and immediately understand as happening in the human world. They are real beings in a lot of ways and have great ability to make you instantly reach out and understand what they are going through. Sometimes that will produce wide smiles, other times that can produce a sense of sadness.
How does it differ to the RWS?
We have more than journey to follow. For example, we see The Fool, Strength, Magician, Hermit and Hierophant throughout the Major Arcana. They do not appear on all cards, but their presence is noticeable on quite a few of the cards. Sometimes a repeat appearance helps enhance the character traits we associate with them. Yet the card interpretation does stay true to that we associate with the RWS. Other times their presence ties in with the journey being undertaken by another character. With this in mind, the cards almost weave a web whereby we begin to understand there is a community dynamic at play, not just an archetypal one off appearance. Our actions and decisions often involve others in some way, and this is reflected throughout this deck.
We also find the other suits follow a story or journey, and again characters do crop up more than once. They even make appearances across the suits (may come across as a 'guest' appearance at times...lol)
When I first started out with this deck, I wanted create images that incorporated different layers or energies within a card theme. Sometimes that takes the form of an upright and reversed interpretation both at the same time. (As seen with the Chariot) On another card it might be the peripheral characters who add an extra dimension. They can help us look at the message from different viewpoints, or come into the issue from a different direction. Sometimes they show us how others indirectly involved with an issue may see it. That can often be different to how we see it if we are too closely involved and are therefore not entirely objective. I really cannot recommend enough that equal attention is given to these characters. They really do add so much value
The book which will accompany this deck will be very comprehensive. The main section is dedicated to the card images and will give a general interpretation, what the image is showing (some symbolism explained), artistic interpretation and some questions to ponder or answer when looking at the card. Every card is discussed in detail, so in that regard it will (hopefully) be refreshing to see that the pip cards and court cards are given as much focus as the Major Arcana.
The second part of the book is a work book, for those who really enjoy studying the cards and prefer to work through them in the form of exercises. Hopefully they will be fun and will include aspects such as reversals, story telling, a quiz and colour association. There is also a section regarding spreads, again incorporating their use in the form of suggested exercises.
This project began in November 2004 which is when I wrote the script. A long search then ensued for the artist, and as the saying goes... things will happen when they are meant to. In January this year, Ravenswing answered a posting I made on the AT. Since then there has been no looking back. He has been an equal partner in the process, and is very much an owner of the Tarot of Innocence as I am. the process to date has been a delight, and I really feel we have formed a very special world which we have been visitors too since that first chat in January. His artwork really does capture the personality of the characters and this is invaluable to me as a reader. I can immediately link in with what is happening, which makes the reading a pleasure to do.
Our aim?
To see this published. We will be making approaches in due course once we have more images finalised. I know it is extremely difficult, and I am not assuming a publisher will be snatching it out of our hands...lol However, we are both focussed, determined and have belief that this deck will come to being - whatever the form. Please with us luck over the next few months.
Take care
Davina
PS the image below is the Chariot from the deck. The driver is the Magician whose card is also shown. :)
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 Last edited on Tue Apr 7th, 2009 05:19 am by shadowdancer
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| Posted: Tue Apr 7th, 2009 05:13 am |
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shadowdancer
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here is the Magician. The characters shown may be ones that are the focus of the reading as opposed to the Magician himself... i.e. you have him being cheered, someone who is trying to figure out how he does the trick, someone else more interested in the props etc...
:)
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 Last edited on Tue Apr 7th, 2009 05:15 am by shadowdancer
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| Posted: Tue Apr 7th, 2009 05:18 am |
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shadowdancer
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removed
Last edited on Mon Apr 20th, 2009 05:18 am by shadowdancer
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| Posted: Tue Apr 7th, 2009 05:22 am |
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shadowdancer
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removed Last edited on Mon Apr 20th, 2009 05:18 am by shadowdancer
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| Posted: Wed Apr 8th, 2009 12:13 am |
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shadowdancer
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removed Last edited on Mon Apr 20th, 2009 05:17 am by shadowdancer
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| Posted: Wed Apr 8th, 2009 12:16 am |
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shadowdancer
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removed
Last edited on Mon Apr 20th, 2009 05:16 am by shadowdancer
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| Posted: Wed Apr 8th, 2009 03:36 am |
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shadowdancer
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Steve / Ravenswing has surprised me today by sending the High Priestess. This was one of the first cards he asked to evaluate before deciding whether the project was one he could take on. Luckily for me, it resonated with him whereby he was more than happy to come onboard as co-creator. As I said in a previous posting, since then there has been no looking back.
:)
Davina
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 Last edited on Wed Apr 8th, 2009 03:38 am by shadowdancer
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20th, 2009 05:15 am |
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shadowdancer
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well, there haven't been comments but there have been some viewings, so will risk showing two more:
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20th, 2009 05:17 am |
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shadowdancer
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and now the Wheel Attached Image (viewed 206 times):
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20th, 2009 05:18 am |
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nicole
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I actually enjoy the layout with the sepia tone to it...and like the Wheel a lot.
good for you :)
Last edited on Mon Apr 20th, 2009 05:18 am by nicole
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| Posted: Sat May 23rd, 2009 06:51 am |
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shadowdancer
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well, we do have another to show. This is the ace of chalices. The gemstones have relevance (amethyst and citrine round the rim, rose quartz in the centre)
hopefully being coloured as it is, it will have a powerful presence in a spread.
also attached is the page of chalices. The sense of innocent vulnerability, due to life skills not yet being attained in handling with our emotions on a conscious level.
Davina
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 Last edited on Sat May 23rd, 2009 06:53 am by shadowdancer
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| Posted: Sat May 23rd, 2009 06:54 am |
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shadowdancer
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page of chalices Attached Image (viewed 189 times):
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22nd, 2009 04:37 am |
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shadowdancer
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well, no comments but I am not going to lose heart :)
Here is the ace of pentacles followed by the 7 of swords. No descriptions from me here - but will answer questions if they arise.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22nd, 2009 04:38 am |
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shadowdancer
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and the 7 of swords Attached Image (viewed 161 times):
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shadow
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Sometimes I think I'm a pessimist because I relate to dark art much better but ultimately I think that if I can find the silver lining in the cloud, it doesn't make me a pessimist. I realized that dark art helps me become aware of the difference between lying to myself just to feel better and facing the discomfort to engage the very thing that bothers me.
Your work clearly has both, the reality of the messages disguised in humour. To me, its clever, funny and sarcastic.
You're right, Davina. I'm glad you're determined to continue posting your cards because you never know who's watching and it may help someone out there even if you don't know it. 
I heard this in a song yesterday on the way to work. "What's the point in never trying? Nothing's changing anyway..." Goo Goo Dolls
Ash
Last edited on Wed Jul 8th, 2009 03:22 am by shadow
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shadowdancer
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thanks for that Ash. Humour is a funny thing (no pun intended there...) and can often show human nature in a way whereby we don't feel offended. Yet when we reflect on that, we see it can also be a purveyor of a lot of truth, sometimes of a very personal nature. If that truth had been given to us straight with no frills, we would perhaps shy away from it, or not want to acknowledge it. We might not like what we hear or see in that instance. In that respect, humour can open a lot of doors which can lead to heightened awareness. I know one member of a different forum immediately saw a friend of theirs indicated on the Hanged Man card - yet knew they would not recognise themselves.
I have decided to post 3 more which were not originally posted....
Queen of swords is first up. Look at that raised eyebrow - that says it all. She really doesn't need to say anything, but if she did - we would listen. 2 words would be used if only 2 were needed for us to get the message. Forget mind games - she is way ahead of you 
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shadowdancer
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4 of pents.
I think a miser need not necessarily be a grumpy old man sitting on his chest counting his coins. Sometimes we have every right to protect what we cherish. Other times by not sharing, or putting to use our assets, we never get the chance to fully enjoy them. What is the point of having something if you never use it, or in the case of money, spend it?
This little lad is being protective of his football. Yes we can see he lacks maturity in knowing how to conduct himself, but hey we have all been there in some way I guess. (Some of us who resist growing up may still be there )
Is he being selfish, or is he being protective? Either way, I sense a lose/lose situation here. I think it is worth noting the similarities in his posture in comparison to what we usually see on the RWS 4 of coins.
We also have a greedy little one sitting on the mushroom stuffing his face with cakes. You sort of sense he is the one never chosen to play on a team, but he doesn't care - he has his cakes and he will not be willing to share. So here in the same card we also have the over-indulgence/greed aspect shown.
Interestingly, on a very different note (for those who read intuitively / do not use boxed interpretations) this may even raise questions of resisting peer pressure, or other situations around it. Or... on the other hand.... it may show (as pointed out to us already) someone is just being a spoiled brat and is in need of a lesson (which they may get shortly when they realise the ball is punctured)
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shadowdancer
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finally... the Fool.
If you see this card as showing the need to just live life with no agenda, have fun and enjoy the moment this would be one way of seeing it. The Fool is on a journey, and has no fears of where he is going, and whether he is up to it. He is just living instinctively in the moment.
There is a saying "no fool like an old fool". I also think there is a line between being the Fool and being seen as being foolish. They are two different things entirely.
Here we have an adult wanting to free himself of daily restraints and expectations and has decided to relive his youth a little for a few minutes, much to the amusement of the youngsters around him.
He is having a great time, and yep - there is a risk he will come off the slide at the side but he doesn't care anyway. There is also a gap in the cloud at the bottom of the slide, so we will wonder where he will end up when he comes off, just like we wonder where the Fool will be once he steps off the cliff edge on traditional depictions.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20th, 2009 10:36 pm |
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shadowdancer
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Here we have the card of Temperance.
Instead of having a water jug on its own, we see her blending the elements of fire and water, leading to a nice balance between the two extremes of the elements.
Davina
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| Posted: Wed Jul 29th, 2009 11:32 pm |
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shadowdancer
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Justice
Well, won’t say a lot about this – the card does sort of tell you why it is Justice. How many of us are ready to look into that mirror and have our souls bared? How many of us can say hand on heart when we do, the scales will remain in balance?
Our character standing before the statue is the Hierophant. His time is near, and he knows he will be passing over to a different realm very shortly. He will be passing the mantle of the Hierophant onto another… I will not say who at this stage but there is natural succession indicated. He has had a student and he now believes that student is ready to take on and continue with his work, so is accepting his personal journey is destined to take a different path. As he stands before the statue, he is asking to be shown how he has lived his life. Have all his actions and words been conducted with integrity and honesty? Is his karma balanced?
He has bared his soul in the mirror and is now waiting for the scales to indicate if indeed he has struck the right balance in every aspect. The sword holding the scales reminds us the outcome will be straight and true. The veil reminds us truth is blind and not tainted by outside influence. It also reminds us we cannot look outwards – in order to truly ‘see’ we have to turn our focus inwards.
I like how this is portrayed. I used to have a problem understanding the difference between this and the Judgement card. In our deck they are very different images and will hopefully help others who may have had similar difficulties understanding the key differences. Once again, Steve has done a great job in bringing this image to life  Some nice additional touches which I think add a little more depth to what I had originally come up with.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30th, 2009 03:19 am |
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shadow
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Dear Davina,
First of all, let me say I love links in a deck. Especially if they are not in sequence because it gives a feel of an epic poetry in motion; especially if they resonate with reality despite the landscape in with it is rendered.
It gives us the opportunity to figure out for ourselves what is going on in the deck rather than being spoon fed with meanings and interpretations. It allows the imagination to flow; it allows cognitive processing; it allows boundaries to be broken and re-built.
I loved your Hierophant card for the same reason; because it shows a guide teaching the young about nature in its natural splendor; the blueprint of the universe. He is teaching them not to fear the dark for its own sake but what it represents to us. He is teachig them not through instilling fear of the unknown but taking them into the unknown and challenging their understanding of it. I've always wondered what good would come out of frightening children with horror stories merely to condition obediance when that would later cripple them in many ways.
How his apprentices take his teaching, if his teaching is structured upon his own ego or if he taught to the best of his knowledge factoring in human errors... well, that is another story. The Hierophant card is about a structure more imposing than the one The Emperor imposes; social, spiritual, institutional, etc.
For The Hierophant to face Justice;  some things we can hide from human eyes but nothing is hidden from the higher consciousness of the Universe... even if we think we have covered our tracks... somehow or the other, the time will come when all scores are settled... nothing personal.
Delightful card, Davina. You and Steve have done a brilliant job with your deck.
Ash
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30th, 2009 03:49 am |
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shadowdancer
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Hi Ash... glad you like it :)
As you rightly say we do not follow a particular sequence... the way I look at it is this:
when we shuffle and look at the cards in a spread they are all over the shop numerically and from different suits. We accept that as being reasonable so it stood to reason (in our mind) to create a story which at first glance may jump around. If the only way you want to follow a structured story is to have the cards lined up numerically well...... that isn't what tarot is about IMO.
With regards the character to stand before the statue, it made sense to us both that it should be the Hierophant. He may be one of the few characters who prepared to have himself revealed. I posted a small scan so it isn't quite clear but we have the feather in one scale pan and a pair of eyes in the other representing the soul. Will the soul be lighter than the feather I wonder? :)
Davina
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sacredashes
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shadowdancer wrote: when we shuffle and look at the cards in a spread they are all over the shop numerically and from different suits. We accept that as being reasonable so it stood to reason (in our mind) to create a story which at first glance may jump around. If the only way you want to follow a structured story is to have the cards lined up numerically well...... that isn't what tarot is about IMO.
Davina, I see that we are on the same page 
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| Posted: Mon Aug 31st, 2009 09:33 pm |
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shadowdancer
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bit of a break now ending.. so here is the King of Chalices, influenced by my experiences in NZ of being able to stand on the top of waterfalls - and I mean right on the waterfall to the edge (I love the way they don't fence everything off, and allow us to experience and have fun). I have a photo of my partner standing on the rock in the water looking over, with another photo of myself at the base of the waterfall.
Davina
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sacredashes
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Dear Davina,
I especially love the idea of the King of Cups sitting on the waterfall and not on a throne that detaches him from his element. I guess that's how I feel about mot decks, where it makes no difference which King is being pulled. they all hold a symbol of the element but are not part of the element.
I've just completed the King of Swords and I have him where it all began; in the vastness of space having a conversation with a zodiac sign. Its a game of mental chess and both are worthy opponents.
I love that your King is able to laugh; because laughter is the best medicine...
Ash
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