2 of Wands

2 of Wands

I really wanted to make sure that I did justice to this image, but I still catch myself thinking that I could have done better.

The main image is of a woman turning into a tree, and a tree into a woman.  The woman is seated on a rock on the shore of a turbulent sea of blood.  The sky above is grey and overcast showing a storm is brewing but also a somber season which matches the gory tide.  There is moss on the stone but that is more to indicate the slick surface rather than a sign of vibrant life.

"Fortune/Trouble" is the indicator of this card.  Fortune in this case indicates something positive coming from turmoil.  This isn't fortune as a part of an overall good aura to life or activity, rather fortune which comes in spite of the difficulties of life.

"Trouble" is mortal in nature.  Not necessarily the risk of bodily harm.  More a sense of stress and anger which takes away a person's human nature and dignity.  Trouble in this case is more serious than just the usual twists and turns of life.  Its the sort of trouble which can cause a person to become someone they hate.

I made sure that there was a border around the woman and the sea to show that she isn't in the sea, but set apart from it.

Two of Swords

2 of Swords

Of all the cards, this image is the one that runs the risk of not fitting into the visual theme of the deck.  I struggled to find another image which worked with the reading of "Unity/Lies", but kept coming back to the Zulu warriors.  Here is my thinking behind it.

Unity is talking about the human condition, not the term used on design or construction.  By unity it is indicating that the element of people working together, for right or wrong.  The tribal framework of Zulu society is perfect to demonstrate this aspect.  Community, neighbors, tribe.  And incredibly strong unit of people with great potential.

This shouldn't be taken to mean that the potential is good.  It can be horrifying.  The focus of the 'unity' aspect in a reading should stay on the potential.

Lies are generated from outside this group, not between members.  If the group is being lead two dark matters or self-destructive actions it is based in external influences, not internal ones.

2 of Pentacles

2 of Pentacles

The two of Pentacles here is depicted with Sunny Elizabeth!  Ha ha!  I had a hard time resisting using her as the image and finally decided the chance was too good to pass up.  The theme of the card is "Mirth/Misery" and at the time we were cast in the Wrightwood outdoor performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream".  She was the leading lady Hermia but was also cast as a fairy for some of the shows.  This meant that she had to learn lines indicating heartache and anguish as well as lines and dances showing merriment.  It was almost like it had been scripted for this card.

She was the blue fairy which kept her character separate from other fairies like Cobweb and Mustard Seed.  She wore a flowing blue gown and found some jewels that she could apply to her cheeks and eyelids.  The show was outside, so when the sun hit the jewels the effect was stunning.

I gave her a halo of butterflies and crown of wildflowers to indicate the nature aspect of her figure.  To tell the truth, I don't think she was to happy to suddenly find herself as the image on the card, but by the time she could lodge a complaint it was too late.  The image was etched and the cards were on their way to the publisher.  That is my take on mirth.

Like the feminine aspect cards, the lavender color as a background indicates the female influence.  The crown is made from ferns which mimic the "Chaos" card, which indicates that mirth has a wild and uncontrolled quality.

2 of Cups

2 of Cups

The "Dead Man's Hand" tarot deck is complete and can be found here.  Published!  Successful Kickstarter!  This has been a great experience!

I'm going to use this blog for giving a quick update on the images that I used in the deck, as well as what the thinking was behind every design.  For a full guide to reading the Dead Man's Hand tarot as well as tarot deck specific games, I'll be using the main atalentforraw website.

This card is for "Harmony/Rupture"  Harmony more in the sense of energies and plans coming together, people living well together and supporting each other.  I used the musical flute to indicate a musical harmony, but that is more a cue to the reader about the meaning of the card than something which should be taken literally.  The 'rupture' element is depected by having fire ants appear through the fingering and frets.

Fire Ants are perfect for 'rupture', but keep in mind that no society is as harmonious as an ant colony.  Although their lives are hard and short, the entire existence of the colony rests on harmony between each individual.