Eternal Cycles

Ten of Pentacles -

It’s taken me weeks to do this painting between hospital trips tending to my husband. But this card is all about the family and the cycles of life here on earth reminding us that we go through each stage in turn, each one of us depending on the other in some way for our place in the greater scheme of things. It’s no wonder that Pixie depicted the Pentacles in the form of the Tree of Life in this card. But you don’t have to be an expert on the Kabbalah to appreciate its significance and rightful place in this image.

I love the way that the archway frames the painting of the family, within the village or town, enclosed by community within a family within a home. The child, the dogs, the elderly man (looking very much like my husband at the moment who is in need of a haircut!); the tapestry on the wall, the coats of arms, and collection of ephemera on the walls gathered over lifetimes. The card is rich with significance of what it means to be human, to live a lifetime enriched by worldly experience and to pass that on through knowledge and wisdom to younger generations to come.

This most earthly card of all the pentacles reminds us that through our roots we are connected to the generations before us carrying the traditions which ultimately teach us to grow and seek the light in all things.

Back in the 70’s when I was a teenager, I longed for my own copy of a tarot deck, but there was none to be had in Ireland back then. However, I owned a copy of The Tarot Revealed, by Eden Gray, with very blotchy printed black and white images from Pixie’s RWS. I started then, to make copies of my own cards to use, and I planted the seed then to create my own deck with beautiful watercolour textures and tones. A few years later, I was able to buy my own deck, and then only a short time later, a whole new genre of art was born in Tarot designs. It was glorious but kind of overwhelming. What could I possibly add to all of this? It raised the bar considerably for my efforts I must admit but I have come to realise that it is in the simplicity of tracing the lines of a beloved tradition that I, like the fool, can take those first humbling steps on my own tarot journey.

Good morning world! I started working on this painting of Pamela Colman Smith’s Sun card when things were very dark indeed in order to lift my energy. But I couldn’t post it. We’ve been through the most awful couple of weeks, my family and I, while my husband goes through test, and today he’ll be undergoing the most clarifying test of all, but we have hope, (the Star). In these dark days I’ve turned to Tarot as my sanctuary through troubled times.

The Sun reminds us that we must live each day with gratitude, simplicity and our whole selves. Enjoy the little moments, the fun, each other and most of all recognise that we each carry a spark of life that is sacred.

Namaste

Happy Full Moon in Libra folks.

While painting this card I was always bothered by the yellowness and brightness of the colours in the traditional RWS and it was only in one of the decks that the gloomy less saturated colours came through. So my interpretation means to illuminate these grey and twilight colours. Went sure whether the moon is full, eclipsed, half or crescent, nor indeed at what stage in its cycle it is at. Which further adds to the confusion, mystery and uncertainty of the meaning. In the land of dreams and darkness where do we go? What is real? What or who can we trust?